Salvador X Kegan
Salvador: Roleplayed by myself.
Kegan: Roleplayed by Macky.
Summary: Relationships.
Kegan: Roleplayed by Macky.
Summary: Relationships.
Kegan;
I stopped quickly, spraying pine needles in my wake as I caught my breath, breathing in the cool sweet pine air. I picked up a high-stepping trot again, letting my earth-trained hooves find their way among the pine tree roots that threatened to drag me off my hooves. The pine needles crunched underhoof, I was close. Within a small minute, I stopped and looked up, waiting for the fimiliar Rush of air down my back as I waited for her. A loud eagle's cry pierced my ears, she was here. I started galloping, my muzzle still pointed to the sky as I pushed on, trying to beat my eagle friend to the pond. I galloped faster and faster without looking at the ground below me and - "Oof!" I exclaimed as I galloped straight into a warm mass. I stopped as I slouched to the ground, and slowly looked up. I saw bright, intense yellow eyes, my body tensed, but I did not move. I was staring into the face of a horse. I waited awkwardly for a moment until I finally managed to apologize, "I'm sorry, I didn't see you there.. actually, I wasn't looking. Did I hurt you?" I asked as I looked up into the confused eyes of the stallion.
Salvador;
Salvador quickly backed up and snorted, shook his mane and body free of the damp grass that clung to his sooty colored coat, and glared at the object that had just crashed into him. Sal was frazzled and confused about what had just happened. He didn't even stop cleaning himself up to take a good look at the mare. All he noticed was that she was a blue roan paint with a strong, intoxicating mare smell. Salvador straightened up and looked at the small mare slouched in front of him. He continued chewing the soft grass in his mouth from when she crashed into him. Sal munched the grass slowly and loudly, with an annoyed look on his face. That was when he noticed the mares eyes: ice blue marbles that sent shivers down his spine. They weren't angry eyes though, these eyes had such gentleness and softness to them.
"Oh! I'm sorry..uh no..you didn't hurt me." He said slowly after staring at her for several seconds. Sal was about to ask her name when a huge feathery being fell from the sky and crashed in him, sending him tumbling backwards. The huge eagle seemed to mock him and flew back into the bright blue sky. Salvador muttered to himself angrily and looked back at the mare. She looked hurt, and the sadness in her eyes pierced right into his heart. "I'm sorry..is he a friend?" He said, as kindly as possible. He definitely did NOT want to scare this mare off!
Kegan;
I shrunk back into my small frame as his yellow eyes stared angrily at me. My eyes widened at the thought the he might hurt me. Though his eyes were angry, the sound of him munching the grass in his mouth reassured me he wasn't in a position to hurt me. I stared back at him, still waiting for a reply. The whole time his eyes never met mine, until in one second, they did. Our blue and yellow eyes collided in a mixture of feelings, and I don't think either one of us moved until he shook himself out of it telling me he was fine. I sighed, thankful it was him who broke the silence. I saw him about to open his mouth when my eagle dive bombed him. He tumbled backwards, and feathers flew as she flapped around in playful strokes, then cascaded her way back into the sky to survey us. As the stallion picked himself up, I no longer felt sure he wouldn't hurt me. I hopped quickly, and the eagle landed in my whithers, her talons poking my skin softly as I stared down the stallion. I didn't want to be mad at him, he seemed nice, but he couldn't hurt my only friend. A little bit of my vulnerability shone through my eyes as sadness flicked my heart. When I heard the stallion's voice, it wasn't threatening me, but I was still unsure. "Yes, she is my friend," I say quietly as the eagle tightens on my back in recognition of me speaking of her. I winced as a felt hot blood run down my whither. I twitch my skin to let her know, and she shoots quickly up into the sky chirping little symapthys.
Salvador;
Salvador grimaced as he watched the blood trickle down the mares shoulder. He watched closely as she somehow told the eagle he was hurting her through some unspoken language. Sal couldn't help but be a little in awe about how she could connect to this gigantic bird. He felt his heart flutter a little bit at the thought. Sal noticed how the mare was looking at him with a terrified look on her face: like he was going to eat her alive or something. He took a deep breath and sighed, looking away. He turned back to the mare with the biggest smile he could muster on his face. She still looked scared. Maybe it was his eyes.."I'm not going to hurt you!" He burst out, then retreated. "Don't worry. Um..I'm Salvador, but you can call me Sal. What's your name?" Salvador asked her, trying to get the awkward conversation to flow.
Kegan;
The stallion, Salvador, looked at me and my eagle with a face of awe. This was the first time my friendship with the eagle felt weird, it was unusual, but... I watched the stallion look away, still fearful that he might be looking at some mare - capturing army he might have with him, I pushed that out of my mind, know I could defend myself if needed.. maybe. He turned back on me with a huge goofy smile on his face, I just stared. I didn't know whether to run or laugh at the look on his face. He yelled out at me that he wouldn't hurt me, and I took a step back at his sudden outburst. He told me not to worry, I was failing at that, he told me his name.. Salvador. My body relaxed, he wouldn't hurt me, I convinced myself. My eagle dropped down onto my mane, grasping it with her sharp talons. "My name is Kegan," I said softly to Sal. I cleared my throat to prepare to talk, "I'm sorry that I was wary of you... Sal. I just don't feel comfortable around new horses," 'especially stallions,' I thought to myself. His name rolled off my tounge easily, and I satires it in my mouth. I stepped forward, closer to him now than I was since I had bumped into his large body. The heat was intense.. so was the silence.
Salvador;
'Kegan..' Salvador liked that name. He looked down at the mare and smiled: it suited her. She stepped closer and he sucked in his breath. Kegan stood very close to his body, and he could feel the heat from her body in the air in between. The strong smell of mare filled his nostrils. It was intoxicating. He could sense that she was nervous being around him. Sal thought quietly to himself: 'Don't scare her off..be gentle.' He knew many mares didn't like him because he could be rude and dishonest, but this mare didn't know that. Right then, Salvador decided to swear to always treat her with respect and never lie to her. She was so very beautiful, gentle, and..completely amazing. Salvador realized he hadn't been breathing and quickly let out a breath, still standing stiffly near Kegan. "So.." He ventured. Looking up he realized her big eagle was watching him with its bright colored eyes. "Does your..eagle have a name?" He asked, suddenly feeling very shy.
Kegan;
When Salvador smiled at me, my heart tingled a little bit. I sighed as our bodies were so close that I could feel his breath. I breathed in his smell, weighing heavy on me with the scent of stallion. I tensed up while my mind whirled about.. everything.. We were silent for a moment as the mist swirled around the pond. His voice came, smooth as honey, and looked up at Ramara. He asked if she had a name, and Ramara chittered softly to me. "Yes she does, her name is Ramara," I say happily that Salvador didn't seem so afraid of Ramara. "Ramara, say 'hi'," I say to Ramara. Ramara floats above my neck, and swoops down to Salvador's neck and screeches a greeting. My heart sunk, I hoped she hadn't scared him.
Salvador;
The powerful eagle spread its wings and hopped over onto Salvadors neck. He wavered unsteadily underneath the bird for a moment, frozen, not wanting to frighten Ramara. Her powerful talons gripped his thick, long mane as she perched on his neck and withers. Sal took a deep breath a smiled a little at Kegan. He couldn't believe that he had an eagle standing on his neck! It was a little bit startling to him, but Sal didn't move, not wanting to frighten the powerful creature. "H-hi Ramara." He spoke softly to the bird. He shook a bit, slightly overcome by all of it.
Kegan;
I smile when Sal tenses that Ramara was actually on him. He smiled at me, and I smiled back, waiting for him to say something to Ramara. He didn't move a muscle, but said hello to Ramara. Softly, he shook, and I looked at him in concern. "Ramara," I say quietly, and she flies off of Sal and back onto my back. She squawks at me loudly, clearly not appreciating being called off of the stallion. "She won't hurt you unless you hurt me, Sal," I say to him softly, knowing that Ramara can be a bird to be afraid of. I smiled at him, "I can tell she likes you, she'd never hurt you," I say, trying to reassure Sal.
Salvador;
Salvador let out a sigh of relief. He felt a drip of swept drip down his short, muscular neck. Kegan seemed to have read his mind when she called her bird off of his neck. Salvador sooner or later might have panicked from the electricity rushing through him when the bird landed on his neck. 'What's the big deal? It's just a bird..and hey, she likes me.' Salvador thought to himself and loosened up. His bright yellow eyes caught the bright blue eyes of Kegan. Salvador looked away at the large ponds surrounding the forest. He motioned to the nearest one and said: "Do you want to go drink some water?" Salvador quickly looked down, realizing how stupid that must have sounded to her. He usually wasn't one to say such awkward things. He bashfully looked back up at Kegan, waiting for her reply to his odd question.
Kegan -
His question surprised me, but I agreed, "Sure," I was excited that he actually wanted to stick around here. We walked down to the edge of one of the misty ponds, and I trotted into the deep water, dipping under every so often to wet my face. I broke the surface of the water and kicked back to the shore, where I stood by Sal and Ramara, who was on the ground cracking open a nut. I smiled at Sal as I shook my mane, happy for the cooling water. "So, where do you live?" I asked, wondering if he was in a group of bachelors, or if he was a loner.
Salvador -
Salvador took a long, drawn out sip of the delicious water. He looked up to see Kegan prancing around in the deep water, tossing her head around. Sal cautiously dipped one of his sturdy, shiny black hooves into the water. It was chilly and he quickly drew back, happy with staying on the warm moss and sand next to the water. Kegan scrambled back onto the shore, her mane hanging limp and wet on her neck. She smelled of pond water, but Sal didn't mind at all. "So, where do you live?" She questioned him. "Oh, I live in a herd just a short ways to the East." Salvador responded. "And you?.." He asked back, suddenly very curious to know.
Kegan -
"Oh," I said, not masking my disappointment that he was in a herd. "Ramara and I live around here, just... in the trees," I say quietly. I look up at him and can't bear the thought of him not being with me. Why did he have to be in a herd?! I groaned inside, the one stallion I like is in a herd, just my luck. I sighed, "Any relatives that live around here?" I ask him, trying to keep convo rolling. I step closer to Sal as the sun slowly makes its way down past the horizon, and my wet body started to shiver. I feel a cough coming up through my cold body, and I lay down next to Ramara while I waited for Sal's reply.
Salvador -
"I patrol around the herd..so I'm not always there." Salvador responded, sensing the dissapointment in the mares voice. 'Does she really like me?' Salvador thought to himself. The thought of a mare liking him warmed Salvador's soul. Then she asked the dreaded question: "Do you have any relatives around here?" Salvador scraped the sand with his hoof and pondered. "Well..no..I have a mother, but I don't know where she is." Salvador swallowed and looked up to the sky then back down at the wet sand. "She deserted me during a storm." It felt good to open up and say that to Kegan.
Kegan -
My lips turned upside down in a frown. "I'm sorry about that, Sal," I say, nuzzling his legs from the point I was laying at. I felt really bad about poor Sal's past. "No good friends around?" I ask, trying to keep him talking to me, his voice putting me in a trance of happiness. "If you don't have any, you aren't alone," I wuffed as I related to the situation. I knew what being a loner felt like.. I knew what being alone felt like, too. I closed my eye as a tear slipped out when I thought of my past......
Salvador -
Salvador looked surprised at Kegans question. "Oh..well..several of the horses in my herd I suppose. There is one horse, Guillermo, that I'm pretty good friends with I suppose." Sal realized he was just trying to make it seem like he had several friends, but honestly, he had never had a good friend! "Alright, I've never had a good friend." Salvador admitted to her, dipping his head down towards the sand and whuffing it. They awkwardly stood in silence for a moment until Salvador ventured to ask about her past. "So, do you have any relatives or good friends around here? You know, besides Ramara?" He eagerly waited for her response, hoping it was a bit happier than his own.
Kegan -
I sighed when he asked about anything close to a relative, or a friend. I couldn't find my way around this, unfortunately "Ramara, she," my voice cracked, and a tear rolled down my face, "she's the only one. The only one who ever loved me, or cared for me, or didn't abandon me because I was a burden," my voice was filled with sobs, and anger burned within me at the thought of my parents. "Ramara, she rescued me," I said softly as she flew onto my back again. I suddenly realized what I had just done and said, wow, I shifted my weight uncomfortably. "Sorry," I said, tears still threatening to spill.
Salvador -
Salvador felt crushed at the thought of Kegan being considered a burden. He could understand the feeling of not being loved and being abandoned by someone you thought would love..but they didn't. Sal looked down at Ramara and suddenly felt very thankful that this bird had taken care of Kegan, and given her enough hope to keep on going. Without her..Sal might have never met Kegan. He could hear the pain in Kegans voice and suddenly felt the urge to reach out and comfort her. Slowly he stepped closer to her, reached out, and gently placed his neck over her neck and withers. It felt a bit awkward to Salvador at first, but he didn't care..as long as she felt safe, he would do anything for her.
Kegan -
Not a word passed between them, Sal just softly laid his neck across mine. His neck muscles were tense, yet so were mine. Our limits right now were unknown by the both of us. I felt every soft brush of his mane softly touching my neck. I forgot about everything else, and just stood still, we both did. I didn't need sympathy, but I wouldn't take this away quite yet. I softly said, "Thank you, Salvador," I couldn't ever say Sal, I could think it, but never say it. My heart burned with a fire I'd only felt once before, but I pushed the previous memories aside to focus on now. It seemed that things might actually go well for me. I caught a quick glance at the quickly rising moon, and fear sparked within me. I felt like I knew Sal, but I knew I had just met him. We could not stay together much longer than now, while I knew this, I didn't move at all, hoping not to end this.
Salvador -
Waves of thoughts rushed through Salvadors head as they stood there in the soft glow of the rising moon. He had never felt so close to a mare before, and he wasn't sure if he was doing anything right! Salvador noticed how she felt so..tense. 'Is she still scared of me?' He thought. But still, they had only met a few hours ago. This all had happened so very fast. Then the thought dawned on him. 'Maybe she scared of stallions? But why?..' He decided not to question her though. He knew he wouldn't like it she asked him about his wariness of mares. The moment grew more tense and awkward, but Salvador didn't want it to end. Somehow he could tell that Kegan didn't want it to end either! He felt like he had known her forever..the thought that it had only been a few hours seemed very strange. Salvador abruptly drew back, nervous he might be scaring her completely. "I'm..sorry." He ducked his head shamefully. "Look..I better go for the night." Their eyes held contact for a moment before he turned to leave, and Sal could feel the connection and power in that one stare..
Kegan -
His apology surprised me, I didn't want him to apologize for something that we had evidently both enjoyed. He said he had to leave, and sadness filled within me, we looked at each other for a moment, his yellow, snake - like eyes burning into me, yet this time it wasn't uncomfortable.. or, as uncomfortable. He turned and left, and I did the same. I trotted back through the pines in an elated manner, with Ramara chittering about Sal from atop my back. I stopped at a tree that was tall, and provided shelter, and I slunk down to my knees into the pine straw. My eyelids closed over my eyes, and sleep came upon me in its ever so welcome darkness that brought me closer to tomorrow.
Salvador -
The earth underneath Salvador's hooves flew by when he loped towards the East, looking for shelter. Finally he trotted to a halt in front of a large cave surrounded by pine trees and scrub oak bushes. Carefully he investigated the cave and made sure nothing else was living in it. Salvador had no fear of going into the dark cave, and after making sure everything was clear he stepped into and lay down on the refreshing cold stone floor. The thoughts of Kegan lulled him to sleep and his eyelids felt heavy. Salvador quickly woke up the next morning just a the night was breaking. Dawn. This was one of Salvadors favorite times of day. He quickly rose to his feet and stretched, the thought of Kegan bringing energy to his body. He loped back to the ponds, stretching his legs out in a full out gallop until he came to the large pond Kegan and him had been at the night before.
Kegan -
My eyes flickered open to the orange light of dawn. I sighed, and I willed myself to get up. I never stayed up as late as I had last night, my mind drifted to the ever so wonderful yesterday. Being me, and my luck always following me, today could be a disaster. I looked around for Ramara, but she wasn't here, she must've went to go eat. Maybe I could find Sal before Ramara tracked me down, and I could talk to him alone. I smile to myself at the thought, but my mind wanders, and I start to shiver. I shake myself off, and pick up a lope over the pine needles. The wind whips through my thick mane, and the pine needles fly in a stream behind me. There is nothing I love more than galloping in the morning at the speed of light, I fly as if Ramara's wings were mine. I skid to a stop where Ramara and I meet, and she shows up above me, while disappointment at not being able to be alone with Sal twinges in my heart, I follow our wonderful routine. I run with Ramara, pushing across the land as quick as I can, and stop at the pond. My lips turn up in a smile when my eyes meet the body of Salvador.
Salvador -
Salvador could hear the sound of hoofbeats coming up behind him and eagerly looked to his side, hoping it was Kegan. His heart skipped a beat when he saw it was her. His hooves sunk in the shallow mud next to the pond as he raced out to greet her. Salvador nickered and slowed down when he drew near to her. "Kegan!" He felt unusually happy this morning, a lot more cheerful than he usually was! It was just that..Kegan seemed to get him so well. The emptiness in Salvador's heart was slowing filling again with love. 'I must really like her.' Salvador thought to himself, unsure when he should tell her that.. not yet. It would have to be a special moment. He wanted to be sure that she liked him back before he admitted anything..but she had come to the pond. 'She wouldn't come back if she didn't like me, right?' Salvador eagerly thought to himself and he beckoned Kegan to follow him back to the shimmering pond.
Kegan -
Sal yelled out my name and came out to greet me. We walked back to the edge of the pond, and stood for a moment. I stared at my face that didn't fit my Arabian - type body and frowned. It would be a mistake in my thinking if I thought he actually liked me. Ramara screeched her arrival and skidded the water's edge. I looked up at Sal's handsome face, and his eyes drew me in. Every part of me was afraid of these eyes, but all the best of me wanted to love them. I stepped closer to him, and flicked my tail gently across his hind legs. I put my muzzle on his withers, trying to stretch higher to reach the tip of his tall back, he stood taller than me. A thought crossed my mind, "How old are you?" I asked quickly, and I warmed up with embarrassment. I drew back my muzzle, and tensed up my body quickly as his face turned to mine, and his snake eyes fixated on my ice blue eyes.
Salvador -
Salvador stared into Kegans icy blue eyes. They were so fierce and wild, yet so peaceful and quiet. They had something else in them: sorrow. It broke Salvadors heart to see the sorrow in her eyes. He couldn't imagine what the small little mare had been through. He was very curious about her past, but he didn't want to pressure her. It also made him a little bit relived..someone else had had an awful past, just like him. Salvador wanted more than anything to completely open up to her and for her to open up to him, so that they could heal together. Salvador laughed a little at her next question. "I just recently turned twelve years old, and you?" He responded, hoping she was to much older than him.
Kegan -
My heart settled, at least he wasn't too much older than me. He was old enough to know more than me about.. anything. Nothing to teach me about anything but my surroundings, I am clueless to a lot of different things. I smiled at him and said, "I'm ten years old, according to last December," I say to him as we stand there, our eyes somehow vowing not to move off of each other. I looked deep into his frightening eyes, trying to pick up on anything that might have happened to him, this might be to only way I'll ever know anything about him, he seems pretty guarded. I reached down, and I felt hurt, smashing into me quickly enough to bring me out of his feelings and back into the present. I step back in shock. I wasn't alone in this, but he must've gone through something far worse than I did to have such powerful emotions. He wore a confused look on his face, and I smiled awkwardly at him. It would be weird for the both of us if he knew I could feel what another horse feels. "Do you want to come into the forest and talk?" I ask before he can ask me anything.
Salvador -
Salvador smiled and nodded in response towards her question. Maybe this would be the chance for them to tell each other a bit more about themselves. They walked side by side deep into woods, then stopped next to a big oak trees. Salvador and Kegan stared into each others eyes. They both had such meaningful, powerful eyes that told so much about their pasts and themselves. "Well..I already told you just about everything about my past." He started off. "I did love my mother..very much! But she never loved me. She abandoned me." Salvador swallowed, fighting the tears back. "There's something else." He said, smiling about what he was about to say. "I like rainbows. They symbolize the end of the storm..that the sun is coming back and the storm is leaving." Salvador laughed a bit. That sounded strange, but it felt good to tell someone a little more about himself.
Kegan -
I smiled at the fact that he liked rainbows, but his mother.. how could someone just leave him? "I like that," I say to him as our hooves crunch on the pine needles while we walk. I stop. "My parents, we lived with each other for a year. They were both outlaws of the battalion that fought for the Rafvala Herd. They'd come home.. just, covered in blood. I'd ask them why they'd got off to fight, but they would just ignore me. One day, I asked them why they ever went if they were just going to get hurt each time, and my father..," my voice cracked and I stopped as my heart swelled and blood-stained visions filled my eyes. "My father," I start again, "he hit and kicked me until I couldn't breathe. I remember that day that the look in his eyes spelled out that I was a mistake, he didn't want me. My mother joined in on stomping on me, and when she kicked my skull, I blacked out, and when I woke up... they has spelled out the word "mistake" with my blood on the cave walls. I lost a lot of blood, and went into a coma for God knows how long, and when I woke up, Ramara was there. She's been with me ever since," I finish, noticing that my face was covered in tears, and I was shaking hard. I start sobbing, unable to stop. In between sobs, I utter, "Yet, I still love them," I say. I think of how many nights I've thought of if I'd kept my mouth shut, maybe we'd all be together, still.
Salvador -
Salvador's heart split when Kegan told her story. Blood..Salvador had known that element very well. He told a little more of his past to Kegan: "One time a huge stallion attacked my mother. I was only a year old but I still fought him to defend her. I finally got him to leave. I was bloody and torn up, but I was proud and I thought my mother would be thankful and praise me." Salvador swallowed and continued. "She didn't say anything, she just turned and left." He could feel his heart break as he told more of his story. "And then..there was the storm. My mother kept trying to loose me, but I stayed with her. Then she left me..trying to save her own life." Salvador looked back at his left back leg. "I hurt my fetlock badly in the storm." Salvador was glad he finally found someone who would listen to his story and cry with him. He looked over at the crying Kegan and found a tear slip down his cheek. Sure, he might have had a pretty bad younger life..but her's was unthinkably horrible! 'A mistake..' Salvador leaned over and whispered. "You are not a mistake Kegan. I would never leave you.."
Kegan -
"Thank you, Salvador," I whisper, and I pulled back my head, and thrust it forward quickly, and touched my muzzle to his. His muzzle was soft, and when we touched it was like lightning. I shut my eyes, "Salvador, I think I'm in love, but I'm waiting until I'm sure to tell you," I say, not thinking at all what I was doing. I knew I trusted him, but, I was new to love, and I didn't know if this was it. I stepped back and looked at Sal again, deep into his eyes. Love. That was what it was. I stepped forward towards him more, and I looked up for Ramara. There she was, sitting in a tree, watching us in amusement. "I was wondering what you were doing tonight?" I ask him happily, not at all knowing the power of what I had asked. Only two days, and I knew I loved him. Maybe my luck was looking up?
Salvador -
When Kegan touched Salvador's muzzle with her own everything seemed to light up. He could feel the electricity between them in that one moment. Salvador leaned back and smiled radiantly at her. "I've been waiting for the perfect moment, too." Salvador looked into Kegan's eyes and happily said: "I love you too, Kegan." He looked up and saw Ramara watching them, a sparkle in her eye. Salvador laughed and turned back to Kegan, answering her question. "No, I'm not doing anything tonight." His yellow eyes sparkled and shimmered with happiness. He couldn't remember being this happy in a long time. Maybe his life was finally going change for the better..
Kegan -
He told me he loved me. My heart jumped, and every part of me warmed inside. He laughed, and it was such a beautiful melody to my ears during my elated mood. His eyes sparkled, which was weird.. for snake eyes. "Maybe, um, well, where do you sleep?" I asked, suddenly very uncomfortable at asking if we could be with each other tonight. This was dangerous of me, but I didn't care, it was time for me to be reckless if I wasn't going to be alone anymore. My eyes lit up, and my tail raised, and I started prancing around playfully. Ramara chimed in, helping me out as we put on a show to blow over what I had just asked. Ramara looked down at me, teasing me, but, I guess, that's what sisters are for.
Salvador -
Kegan's question shocked Salvador for a second. "Well..back in the herd I sleep in the valley, but around here I sleep just about anywhere that's safe..a lot of the time I sleep in caves." Salvador responded. He looked up at Ramara and saw the little show she was putting on with Ramara. It was a very cheerful, funny sight to watch, and it warmed Salvador's heart. They had the most beautiful sisterly bond between them, and it made Salvador love Kegan even more. To finally admit that he loved her..that was powerful. It had only been two days but all of Salvador knew that this was indeed love..
Kegan -
Ramara and I stopped and looked at Sal. "Caves?" I ask, not able to stop one shiver running down my back as a bloody "mistake" flashes before me. "Well, are you going back to your herd tonight?" I ask, my voice still shaking, and panic lighting in my eyes. Ramara landed softly on my back, and slowly started to peck through my tangled mane in attempts to calm my shaking body. I look up at him, and am lost for words, his eyes were just so captivating. They were starting to become more normal to me, but I was very curious about them.
Salvador -
Salvador tripped over his words when he hurriedly responded. "Oh no, no!" 'How could she think I would leave her after we just admitted our love to each other?' Salvador could sense the fear in her tone of voice and it dawned on him that she definitely wouldn't want to sleep in a cave. From what she had just told him..she was terrified of them. "We don't need to sleep in a cave, of course." He said, reassuring her. "Maybe we can find a tree or a small clearing in the woods somewhere." Salvador gently said, hoping she would agree.
Kegan -
We. He had said 'we'. I smiled, "Sure, Salvador," I said, wondering why it always came out "Salvador", rather than "Sal". I frowned, but forced on a smile. I hoped that I was comfortable around him, I wasn't sure, though. "Um, Sal," yes! I had actually said it! "Would you call me Kelly...? Its what... someone used to call me," I say, hoping he doesn't ask who. Ramara looks at me quizzically, knowing the importance of that name, but I look away, and stand by Sal as we star trotting further into the trees.
Salvador -
Kelly..it sounded strange to say compared to Kegan. After calling her that so many times Salvador was unsure of calling her that. But she had just called him Sal! "Sure..Kelly." The name felt strange on his tongue, but he managed to say it. Salvadors ears pricked when she said someone else had called her that. 'Someone else..' Had she loved some other stallion before him? Or was that what her parents had called her..Salvador couldn't help but be a little more than curious. He looked at her and cocked his head quizzically, expecting an explanation of "Kelly."
Kegan -
My breath caught when he looked at me that way. I didn't want to tell him, but, I couldn't not tell him. "A stallion I used to.. know called me that. It was special, and, I liked hearing it. I just thought.. well," I broke off, really not knowing how to explain myself. I couldn't just tell him that another stallion I used to like called me that and I liked it and I wanted to hear it again. I was just.. clueless, then and now. I am disgusted at the thought of that stallion, Sal is the only stallion I could ever love. Somehow, I could never tell him that. I begged with him through my eyes to understand.
Salvador -
Surprisingly, the thought of Kegan once liking another stallion didn't bother Salvador at all. Maybe it was the way she looked at him..he could tell that she liked him. Salvador let his eyes drift over Andalusian like head on Kegan's Arabian like body. She might have thought it was unattractive, but Salvador thought it was beautiful and made he unique. He eyed her blue roan tovero coat..it was so rare and pretty. He had never seen a mare of such unmatchable beauty. Salvador smiled. As long as he had her heart nothing else mattered..
Kegan -
Sal just looked at her with pools of love in his yellow eyes. I smiled back at him, taking in his unique face, and surveying all of him. "Shall we find a place to lie down, Sal?" I ask, still trying to get "Sal" to be more fluent for me. I look forward to tonight, when we can talk together, and learn things about each other we didn't know, get caught up on our lives since we've not known one another. I look back at him, and he is still looking at me, but doesn't say a thing. Somehow, that is why I like him.
Salvador -
Salvador nodded in response to Kegan's question. He tossed his head and gestured towards the North. "Let's go that way." Salvador said, assuming there would be some nice areas to rest. As they headed up that way he could sense the happiness in the air. Salvador tossed his head in the air and whuffed the delicious fresh air. He could feel his snakelike yellow eyes start to sparkle again. Salvador trotted forward and took a step closer to Kegan. Leaning over, he playfully tickled her chin with his whiskers. Salvador snorted and laughed, kicking up his feet and heading off in a lope in the soft, green grass on the forest floor.
Kegan -
We walked together, quietly, going North. There was a breath of cold air, filled with complete happiness from both of us. I smiled, and trotted forward to keep up with Sal's long strides. I caught a glimpse of his eyes, and my breath caught, they were so beautiful, I would have to ask him about them tonight. His body neared mine, so close I could hear his quiet breath, and he leaned over and tickled my chin with his whiskers. I giggled, and Sal laughed and bucked his way into a lope. I sprung into a fast lope to keep up with him, not being able to help myself from getting winded. I stopped for a minute in a grove of trees that would be a perfect place to sleep, "Sal! I found a good place to sleep!" I shouted out to him, as he was still loping happily away.
I stopped quickly, spraying pine needles in my wake as I caught my breath, breathing in the cool sweet pine air. I picked up a high-stepping trot again, letting my earth-trained hooves find their way among the pine tree roots that threatened to drag me off my hooves. The pine needles crunched underhoof, I was close. Within a small minute, I stopped and looked up, waiting for the fimiliar Rush of air down my back as I waited for her. A loud eagle's cry pierced my ears, she was here. I started galloping, my muzzle still pointed to the sky as I pushed on, trying to beat my eagle friend to the pond. I galloped faster and faster without looking at the ground below me and - "Oof!" I exclaimed as I galloped straight into a warm mass. I stopped as I slouched to the ground, and slowly looked up. I saw bright, intense yellow eyes, my body tensed, but I did not move. I was staring into the face of a horse. I waited awkwardly for a moment until I finally managed to apologize, "I'm sorry, I didn't see you there.. actually, I wasn't looking. Did I hurt you?" I asked as I looked up into the confused eyes of the stallion.
Salvador;
Salvador quickly backed up and snorted, shook his mane and body free of the damp grass that clung to his sooty colored coat, and glared at the object that had just crashed into him. Sal was frazzled and confused about what had just happened. He didn't even stop cleaning himself up to take a good look at the mare. All he noticed was that she was a blue roan paint with a strong, intoxicating mare smell. Salvador straightened up and looked at the small mare slouched in front of him. He continued chewing the soft grass in his mouth from when she crashed into him. Sal munched the grass slowly and loudly, with an annoyed look on his face. That was when he noticed the mares eyes: ice blue marbles that sent shivers down his spine. They weren't angry eyes though, these eyes had such gentleness and softness to them.
"Oh! I'm sorry..uh no..you didn't hurt me." He said slowly after staring at her for several seconds. Sal was about to ask her name when a huge feathery being fell from the sky and crashed in him, sending him tumbling backwards. The huge eagle seemed to mock him and flew back into the bright blue sky. Salvador muttered to himself angrily and looked back at the mare. She looked hurt, and the sadness in her eyes pierced right into his heart. "I'm sorry..is he a friend?" He said, as kindly as possible. He definitely did NOT want to scare this mare off!
Kegan;
I shrunk back into my small frame as his yellow eyes stared angrily at me. My eyes widened at the thought the he might hurt me. Though his eyes were angry, the sound of him munching the grass in his mouth reassured me he wasn't in a position to hurt me. I stared back at him, still waiting for a reply. The whole time his eyes never met mine, until in one second, they did. Our blue and yellow eyes collided in a mixture of feelings, and I don't think either one of us moved until he shook himself out of it telling me he was fine. I sighed, thankful it was him who broke the silence. I saw him about to open his mouth when my eagle dive bombed him. He tumbled backwards, and feathers flew as she flapped around in playful strokes, then cascaded her way back into the sky to survey us. As the stallion picked himself up, I no longer felt sure he wouldn't hurt me. I hopped quickly, and the eagle landed in my whithers, her talons poking my skin softly as I stared down the stallion. I didn't want to be mad at him, he seemed nice, but he couldn't hurt my only friend. A little bit of my vulnerability shone through my eyes as sadness flicked my heart. When I heard the stallion's voice, it wasn't threatening me, but I was still unsure. "Yes, she is my friend," I say quietly as the eagle tightens on my back in recognition of me speaking of her. I winced as a felt hot blood run down my whither. I twitch my skin to let her know, and she shoots quickly up into the sky chirping little symapthys.
Salvador;
Salvador grimaced as he watched the blood trickle down the mares shoulder. He watched closely as she somehow told the eagle he was hurting her through some unspoken language. Sal couldn't help but be a little in awe about how she could connect to this gigantic bird. He felt his heart flutter a little bit at the thought. Sal noticed how the mare was looking at him with a terrified look on her face: like he was going to eat her alive or something. He took a deep breath and sighed, looking away. He turned back to the mare with the biggest smile he could muster on his face. She still looked scared. Maybe it was his eyes.."I'm not going to hurt you!" He burst out, then retreated. "Don't worry. Um..I'm Salvador, but you can call me Sal. What's your name?" Salvador asked her, trying to get the awkward conversation to flow.
Kegan;
The stallion, Salvador, looked at me and my eagle with a face of awe. This was the first time my friendship with the eagle felt weird, it was unusual, but... I watched the stallion look away, still fearful that he might be looking at some mare - capturing army he might have with him, I pushed that out of my mind, know I could defend myself if needed.. maybe. He turned back on me with a huge goofy smile on his face, I just stared. I didn't know whether to run or laugh at the look on his face. He yelled out at me that he wouldn't hurt me, and I took a step back at his sudden outburst. He told me not to worry, I was failing at that, he told me his name.. Salvador. My body relaxed, he wouldn't hurt me, I convinced myself. My eagle dropped down onto my mane, grasping it with her sharp talons. "My name is Kegan," I said softly to Sal. I cleared my throat to prepare to talk, "I'm sorry that I was wary of you... Sal. I just don't feel comfortable around new horses," 'especially stallions,' I thought to myself. His name rolled off my tounge easily, and I satires it in my mouth. I stepped forward, closer to him now than I was since I had bumped into his large body. The heat was intense.. so was the silence.
Salvador;
'Kegan..' Salvador liked that name. He looked down at the mare and smiled: it suited her. She stepped closer and he sucked in his breath. Kegan stood very close to his body, and he could feel the heat from her body in the air in between. The strong smell of mare filled his nostrils. It was intoxicating. He could sense that she was nervous being around him. Sal thought quietly to himself: 'Don't scare her off..be gentle.' He knew many mares didn't like him because he could be rude and dishonest, but this mare didn't know that. Right then, Salvador decided to swear to always treat her with respect and never lie to her. She was so very beautiful, gentle, and..completely amazing. Salvador realized he hadn't been breathing and quickly let out a breath, still standing stiffly near Kegan. "So.." He ventured. Looking up he realized her big eagle was watching him with its bright colored eyes. "Does your..eagle have a name?" He asked, suddenly feeling very shy.
Kegan;
When Salvador smiled at me, my heart tingled a little bit. I sighed as our bodies were so close that I could feel his breath. I breathed in his smell, weighing heavy on me with the scent of stallion. I tensed up while my mind whirled about.. everything.. We were silent for a moment as the mist swirled around the pond. His voice came, smooth as honey, and looked up at Ramara. He asked if she had a name, and Ramara chittered softly to me. "Yes she does, her name is Ramara," I say happily that Salvador didn't seem so afraid of Ramara. "Ramara, say 'hi'," I say to Ramara. Ramara floats above my neck, and swoops down to Salvador's neck and screeches a greeting. My heart sunk, I hoped she hadn't scared him.
Salvador;
The powerful eagle spread its wings and hopped over onto Salvadors neck. He wavered unsteadily underneath the bird for a moment, frozen, not wanting to frighten Ramara. Her powerful talons gripped his thick, long mane as she perched on his neck and withers. Sal took a deep breath a smiled a little at Kegan. He couldn't believe that he had an eagle standing on his neck! It was a little bit startling to him, but Sal didn't move, not wanting to frighten the powerful creature. "H-hi Ramara." He spoke softly to the bird. He shook a bit, slightly overcome by all of it.
Kegan;
I smile when Sal tenses that Ramara was actually on him. He smiled at me, and I smiled back, waiting for him to say something to Ramara. He didn't move a muscle, but said hello to Ramara. Softly, he shook, and I looked at him in concern. "Ramara," I say quietly, and she flies off of Sal and back onto my back. She squawks at me loudly, clearly not appreciating being called off of the stallion. "She won't hurt you unless you hurt me, Sal," I say to him softly, knowing that Ramara can be a bird to be afraid of. I smiled at him, "I can tell she likes you, she'd never hurt you," I say, trying to reassure Sal.
Salvador;
Salvador let out a sigh of relief. He felt a drip of swept drip down his short, muscular neck. Kegan seemed to have read his mind when she called her bird off of his neck. Salvador sooner or later might have panicked from the electricity rushing through him when the bird landed on his neck. 'What's the big deal? It's just a bird..and hey, she likes me.' Salvador thought to himself and loosened up. His bright yellow eyes caught the bright blue eyes of Kegan. Salvador looked away at the large ponds surrounding the forest. He motioned to the nearest one and said: "Do you want to go drink some water?" Salvador quickly looked down, realizing how stupid that must have sounded to her. He usually wasn't one to say such awkward things. He bashfully looked back up at Kegan, waiting for her reply to his odd question.
Kegan -
His question surprised me, but I agreed, "Sure," I was excited that he actually wanted to stick around here. We walked down to the edge of one of the misty ponds, and I trotted into the deep water, dipping under every so often to wet my face. I broke the surface of the water and kicked back to the shore, where I stood by Sal and Ramara, who was on the ground cracking open a nut. I smiled at Sal as I shook my mane, happy for the cooling water. "So, where do you live?" I asked, wondering if he was in a group of bachelors, or if he was a loner.
Salvador -
Salvador took a long, drawn out sip of the delicious water. He looked up to see Kegan prancing around in the deep water, tossing her head around. Sal cautiously dipped one of his sturdy, shiny black hooves into the water. It was chilly and he quickly drew back, happy with staying on the warm moss and sand next to the water. Kegan scrambled back onto the shore, her mane hanging limp and wet on her neck. She smelled of pond water, but Sal didn't mind at all. "So, where do you live?" She questioned him. "Oh, I live in a herd just a short ways to the East." Salvador responded. "And you?.." He asked back, suddenly very curious to know.
Kegan -
"Oh," I said, not masking my disappointment that he was in a herd. "Ramara and I live around here, just... in the trees," I say quietly. I look up at him and can't bear the thought of him not being with me. Why did he have to be in a herd?! I groaned inside, the one stallion I like is in a herd, just my luck. I sighed, "Any relatives that live around here?" I ask him, trying to keep convo rolling. I step closer to Sal as the sun slowly makes its way down past the horizon, and my wet body started to shiver. I feel a cough coming up through my cold body, and I lay down next to Ramara while I waited for Sal's reply.
Salvador -
"I patrol around the herd..so I'm not always there." Salvador responded, sensing the dissapointment in the mares voice. 'Does she really like me?' Salvador thought to himself. The thought of a mare liking him warmed Salvador's soul. Then she asked the dreaded question: "Do you have any relatives around here?" Salvador scraped the sand with his hoof and pondered. "Well..no..I have a mother, but I don't know where she is." Salvador swallowed and looked up to the sky then back down at the wet sand. "She deserted me during a storm." It felt good to open up and say that to Kegan.
Kegan -
My lips turned upside down in a frown. "I'm sorry about that, Sal," I say, nuzzling his legs from the point I was laying at. I felt really bad about poor Sal's past. "No good friends around?" I ask, trying to keep him talking to me, his voice putting me in a trance of happiness. "If you don't have any, you aren't alone," I wuffed as I related to the situation. I knew what being a loner felt like.. I knew what being alone felt like, too. I closed my eye as a tear slipped out when I thought of my past......
Salvador -
Salvador looked surprised at Kegans question. "Oh..well..several of the horses in my herd I suppose. There is one horse, Guillermo, that I'm pretty good friends with I suppose." Sal realized he was just trying to make it seem like he had several friends, but honestly, he had never had a good friend! "Alright, I've never had a good friend." Salvador admitted to her, dipping his head down towards the sand and whuffing it. They awkwardly stood in silence for a moment until Salvador ventured to ask about her past. "So, do you have any relatives or good friends around here? You know, besides Ramara?" He eagerly waited for her response, hoping it was a bit happier than his own.
Kegan -
I sighed when he asked about anything close to a relative, or a friend. I couldn't find my way around this, unfortunately "Ramara, she," my voice cracked, and a tear rolled down my face, "she's the only one. The only one who ever loved me, or cared for me, or didn't abandon me because I was a burden," my voice was filled with sobs, and anger burned within me at the thought of my parents. "Ramara, she rescued me," I said softly as she flew onto my back again. I suddenly realized what I had just done and said, wow, I shifted my weight uncomfortably. "Sorry," I said, tears still threatening to spill.
Salvador -
Salvador felt crushed at the thought of Kegan being considered a burden. He could understand the feeling of not being loved and being abandoned by someone you thought would love..but they didn't. Sal looked down at Ramara and suddenly felt very thankful that this bird had taken care of Kegan, and given her enough hope to keep on going. Without her..Sal might have never met Kegan. He could hear the pain in Kegans voice and suddenly felt the urge to reach out and comfort her. Slowly he stepped closer to her, reached out, and gently placed his neck over her neck and withers. It felt a bit awkward to Salvador at first, but he didn't care..as long as she felt safe, he would do anything for her.
Kegan -
Not a word passed between them, Sal just softly laid his neck across mine. His neck muscles were tense, yet so were mine. Our limits right now were unknown by the both of us. I felt every soft brush of his mane softly touching my neck. I forgot about everything else, and just stood still, we both did. I didn't need sympathy, but I wouldn't take this away quite yet. I softly said, "Thank you, Salvador," I couldn't ever say Sal, I could think it, but never say it. My heart burned with a fire I'd only felt once before, but I pushed the previous memories aside to focus on now. It seemed that things might actually go well for me. I caught a quick glance at the quickly rising moon, and fear sparked within me. I felt like I knew Sal, but I knew I had just met him. We could not stay together much longer than now, while I knew this, I didn't move at all, hoping not to end this.
Salvador -
Waves of thoughts rushed through Salvadors head as they stood there in the soft glow of the rising moon. He had never felt so close to a mare before, and he wasn't sure if he was doing anything right! Salvador noticed how she felt so..tense. 'Is she still scared of me?' He thought. But still, they had only met a few hours ago. This all had happened so very fast. Then the thought dawned on him. 'Maybe she scared of stallions? But why?..' He decided not to question her though. He knew he wouldn't like it she asked him about his wariness of mares. The moment grew more tense and awkward, but Salvador didn't want it to end. Somehow he could tell that Kegan didn't want it to end either! He felt like he had known her forever..the thought that it had only been a few hours seemed very strange. Salvador abruptly drew back, nervous he might be scaring her completely. "I'm..sorry." He ducked his head shamefully. "Look..I better go for the night." Their eyes held contact for a moment before he turned to leave, and Sal could feel the connection and power in that one stare..
Kegan -
His apology surprised me, I didn't want him to apologize for something that we had evidently both enjoyed. He said he had to leave, and sadness filled within me, we looked at each other for a moment, his yellow, snake - like eyes burning into me, yet this time it wasn't uncomfortable.. or, as uncomfortable. He turned and left, and I did the same. I trotted back through the pines in an elated manner, with Ramara chittering about Sal from atop my back. I stopped at a tree that was tall, and provided shelter, and I slunk down to my knees into the pine straw. My eyelids closed over my eyes, and sleep came upon me in its ever so welcome darkness that brought me closer to tomorrow.
Salvador -
The earth underneath Salvador's hooves flew by when he loped towards the East, looking for shelter. Finally he trotted to a halt in front of a large cave surrounded by pine trees and scrub oak bushes. Carefully he investigated the cave and made sure nothing else was living in it. Salvador had no fear of going into the dark cave, and after making sure everything was clear he stepped into and lay down on the refreshing cold stone floor. The thoughts of Kegan lulled him to sleep and his eyelids felt heavy. Salvador quickly woke up the next morning just a the night was breaking. Dawn. This was one of Salvadors favorite times of day. He quickly rose to his feet and stretched, the thought of Kegan bringing energy to his body. He loped back to the ponds, stretching his legs out in a full out gallop until he came to the large pond Kegan and him had been at the night before.
Kegan -
My eyes flickered open to the orange light of dawn. I sighed, and I willed myself to get up. I never stayed up as late as I had last night, my mind drifted to the ever so wonderful yesterday. Being me, and my luck always following me, today could be a disaster. I looked around for Ramara, but she wasn't here, she must've went to go eat. Maybe I could find Sal before Ramara tracked me down, and I could talk to him alone. I smile to myself at the thought, but my mind wanders, and I start to shiver. I shake myself off, and pick up a lope over the pine needles. The wind whips through my thick mane, and the pine needles fly in a stream behind me. There is nothing I love more than galloping in the morning at the speed of light, I fly as if Ramara's wings were mine. I skid to a stop where Ramara and I meet, and she shows up above me, while disappointment at not being able to be alone with Sal twinges in my heart, I follow our wonderful routine. I run with Ramara, pushing across the land as quick as I can, and stop at the pond. My lips turn up in a smile when my eyes meet the body of Salvador.
Salvador -
Salvador could hear the sound of hoofbeats coming up behind him and eagerly looked to his side, hoping it was Kegan. His heart skipped a beat when he saw it was her. His hooves sunk in the shallow mud next to the pond as he raced out to greet her. Salvador nickered and slowed down when he drew near to her. "Kegan!" He felt unusually happy this morning, a lot more cheerful than he usually was! It was just that..Kegan seemed to get him so well. The emptiness in Salvador's heart was slowing filling again with love. 'I must really like her.' Salvador thought to himself, unsure when he should tell her that.. not yet. It would have to be a special moment. He wanted to be sure that she liked him back before he admitted anything..but she had come to the pond. 'She wouldn't come back if she didn't like me, right?' Salvador eagerly thought to himself and he beckoned Kegan to follow him back to the shimmering pond.
Kegan -
Sal yelled out my name and came out to greet me. We walked back to the edge of the pond, and stood for a moment. I stared at my face that didn't fit my Arabian - type body and frowned. It would be a mistake in my thinking if I thought he actually liked me. Ramara screeched her arrival and skidded the water's edge. I looked up at Sal's handsome face, and his eyes drew me in. Every part of me was afraid of these eyes, but all the best of me wanted to love them. I stepped closer to him, and flicked my tail gently across his hind legs. I put my muzzle on his withers, trying to stretch higher to reach the tip of his tall back, he stood taller than me. A thought crossed my mind, "How old are you?" I asked quickly, and I warmed up with embarrassment. I drew back my muzzle, and tensed up my body quickly as his face turned to mine, and his snake eyes fixated on my ice blue eyes.
Salvador -
Salvador stared into Kegans icy blue eyes. They were so fierce and wild, yet so peaceful and quiet. They had something else in them: sorrow. It broke Salvadors heart to see the sorrow in her eyes. He couldn't imagine what the small little mare had been through. He was very curious about her past, but he didn't want to pressure her. It also made him a little bit relived..someone else had had an awful past, just like him. Salvador wanted more than anything to completely open up to her and for her to open up to him, so that they could heal together. Salvador laughed a little at her next question. "I just recently turned twelve years old, and you?" He responded, hoping she was to much older than him.
Kegan -
My heart settled, at least he wasn't too much older than me. He was old enough to know more than me about.. anything. Nothing to teach me about anything but my surroundings, I am clueless to a lot of different things. I smiled at him and said, "I'm ten years old, according to last December," I say to him as we stand there, our eyes somehow vowing not to move off of each other. I looked deep into his frightening eyes, trying to pick up on anything that might have happened to him, this might be to only way I'll ever know anything about him, he seems pretty guarded. I reached down, and I felt hurt, smashing into me quickly enough to bring me out of his feelings and back into the present. I step back in shock. I wasn't alone in this, but he must've gone through something far worse than I did to have such powerful emotions. He wore a confused look on his face, and I smiled awkwardly at him. It would be weird for the both of us if he knew I could feel what another horse feels. "Do you want to come into the forest and talk?" I ask before he can ask me anything.
Salvador -
Salvador smiled and nodded in response towards her question. Maybe this would be the chance for them to tell each other a bit more about themselves. They walked side by side deep into woods, then stopped next to a big oak trees. Salvador and Kegan stared into each others eyes. They both had such meaningful, powerful eyes that told so much about their pasts and themselves. "Well..I already told you just about everything about my past." He started off. "I did love my mother..very much! But she never loved me. She abandoned me." Salvador swallowed, fighting the tears back. "There's something else." He said, smiling about what he was about to say. "I like rainbows. They symbolize the end of the storm..that the sun is coming back and the storm is leaving." Salvador laughed a bit. That sounded strange, but it felt good to tell someone a little more about himself.
Kegan -
I smiled at the fact that he liked rainbows, but his mother.. how could someone just leave him? "I like that," I say to him as our hooves crunch on the pine needles while we walk. I stop. "My parents, we lived with each other for a year. They were both outlaws of the battalion that fought for the Rafvala Herd. They'd come home.. just, covered in blood. I'd ask them why they'd got off to fight, but they would just ignore me. One day, I asked them why they ever went if they were just going to get hurt each time, and my father..," my voice cracked and I stopped as my heart swelled and blood-stained visions filled my eyes. "My father," I start again, "he hit and kicked me until I couldn't breathe. I remember that day that the look in his eyes spelled out that I was a mistake, he didn't want me. My mother joined in on stomping on me, and when she kicked my skull, I blacked out, and when I woke up... they has spelled out the word "mistake" with my blood on the cave walls. I lost a lot of blood, and went into a coma for God knows how long, and when I woke up, Ramara was there. She's been with me ever since," I finish, noticing that my face was covered in tears, and I was shaking hard. I start sobbing, unable to stop. In between sobs, I utter, "Yet, I still love them," I say. I think of how many nights I've thought of if I'd kept my mouth shut, maybe we'd all be together, still.
Salvador -
Salvador's heart split when Kegan told her story. Blood..Salvador had known that element very well. He told a little more of his past to Kegan: "One time a huge stallion attacked my mother. I was only a year old but I still fought him to defend her. I finally got him to leave. I was bloody and torn up, but I was proud and I thought my mother would be thankful and praise me." Salvador swallowed and continued. "She didn't say anything, she just turned and left." He could feel his heart break as he told more of his story. "And then..there was the storm. My mother kept trying to loose me, but I stayed with her. Then she left me..trying to save her own life." Salvador looked back at his left back leg. "I hurt my fetlock badly in the storm." Salvador was glad he finally found someone who would listen to his story and cry with him. He looked over at the crying Kegan and found a tear slip down his cheek. Sure, he might have had a pretty bad younger life..but her's was unthinkably horrible! 'A mistake..' Salvador leaned over and whispered. "You are not a mistake Kegan. I would never leave you.."
Kegan -
"Thank you, Salvador," I whisper, and I pulled back my head, and thrust it forward quickly, and touched my muzzle to his. His muzzle was soft, and when we touched it was like lightning. I shut my eyes, "Salvador, I think I'm in love, but I'm waiting until I'm sure to tell you," I say, not thinking at all what I was doing. I knew I trusted him, but, I was new to love, and I didn't know if this was it. I stepped back and looked at Sal again, deep into his eyes. Love. That was what it was. I stepped forward towards him more, and I looked up for Ramara. There she was, sitting in a tree, watching us in amusement. "I was wondering what you were doing tonight?" I ask him happily, not at all knowing the power of what I had asked. Only two days, and I knew I loved him. Maybe my luck was looking up?
Salvador -
When Kegan touched Salvador's muzzle with her own everything seemed to light up. He could feel the electricity between them in that one moment. Salvador leaned back and smiled radiantly at her. "I've been waiting for the perfect moment, too." Salvador looked into Kegan's eyes and happily said: "I love you too, Kegan." He looked up and saw Ramara watching them, a sparkle in her eye. Salvador laughed and turned back to Kegan, answering her question. "No, I'm not doing anything tonight." His yellow eyes sparkled and shimmered with happiness. He couldn't remember being this happy in a long time. Maybe his life was finally going change for the better..
Kegan -
He told me he loved me. My heart jumped, and every part of me warmed inside. He laughed, and it was such a beautiful melody to my ears during my elated mood. His eyes sparkled, which was weird.. for snake eyes. "Maybe, um, well, where do you sleep?" I asked, suddenly very uncomfortable at asking if we could be with each other tonight. This was dangerous of me, but I didn't care, it was time for me to be reckless if I wasn't going to be alone anymore. My eyes lit up, and my tail raised, and I started prancing around playfully. Ramara chimed in, helping me out as we put on a show to blow over what I had just asked. Ramara looked down at me, teasing me, but, I guess, that's what sisters are for.
Salvador -
Kegan's question shocked Salvador for a second. "Well..back in the herd I sleep in the valley, but around here I sleep just about anywhere that's safe..a lot of the time I sleep in caves." Salvador responded. He looked up at Ramara and saw the little show she was putting on with Ramara. It was a very cheerful, funny sight to watch, and it warmed Salvador's heart. They had the most beautiful sisterly bond between them, and it made Salvador love Kegan even more. To finally admit that he loved her..that was powerful. It had only been two days but all of Salvador knew that this was indeed love..
Kegan -
Ramara and I stopped and looked at Sal. "Caves?" I ask, not able to stop one shiver running down my back as a bloody "mistake" flashes before me. "Well, are you going back to your herd tonight?" I ask, my voice still shaking, and panic lighting in my eyes. Ramara landed softly on my back, and slowly started to peck through my tangled mane in attempts to calm my shaking body. I look up at him, and am lost for words, his eyes were just so captivating. They were starting to become more normal to me, but I was very curious about them.
Salvador -
Salvador tripped over his words when he hurriedly responded. "Oh no, no!" 'How could she think I would leave her after we just admitted our love to each other?' Salvador could sense the fear in her tone of voice and it dawned on him that she definitely wouldn't want to sleep in a cave. From what she had just told him..she was terrified of them. "We don't need to sleep in a cave, of course." He said, reassuring her. "Maybe we can find a tree or a small clearing in the woods somewhere." Salvador gently said, hoping she would agree.
Kegan -
We. He had said 'we'. I smiled, "Sure, Salvador," I said, wondering why it always came out "Salvador", rather than "Sal". I frowned, but forced on a smile. I hoped that I was comfortable around him, I wasn't sure, though. "Um, Sal," yes! I had actually said it! "Would you call me Kelly...? Its what... someone used to call me," I say, hoping he doesn't ask who. Ramara looks at me quizzically, knowing the importance of that name, but I look away, and stand by Sal as we star trotting further into the trees.
Salvador -
Kelly..it sounded strange to say compared to Kegan. After calling her that so many times Salvador was unsure of calling her that. But she had just called him Sal! "Sure..Kelly." The name felt strange on his tongue, but he managed to say it. Salvadors ears pricked when she said someone else had called her that. 'Someone else..' Had she loved some other stallion before him? Or was that what her parents had called her..Salvador couldn't help but be a little more than curious. He looked at her and cocked his head quizzically, expecting an explanation of "Kelly."
Kegan -
My breath caught when he looked at me that way. I didn't want to tell him, but, I couldn't not tell him. "A stallion I used to.. know called me that. It was special, and, I liked hearing it. I just thought.. well," I broke off, really not knowing how to explain myself. I couldn't just tell him that another stallion I used to like called me that and I liked it and I wanted to hear it again. I was just.. clueless, then and now. I am disgusted at the thought of that stallion, Sal is the only stallion I could ever love. Somehow, I could never tell him that. I begged with him through my eyes to understand.
Salvador -
Surprisingly, the thought of Kegan once liking another stallion didn't bother Salvador at all. Maybe it was the way she looked at him..he could tell that she liked him. Salvador let his eyes drift over Andalusian like head on Kegan's Arabian like body. She might have thought it was unattractive, but Salvador thought it was beautiful and made he unique. He eyed her blue roan tovero coat..it was so rare and pretty. He had never seen a mare of such unmatchable beauty. Salvador smiled. As long as he had her heart nothing else mattered..
Kegan -
Sal just looked at her with pools of love in his yellow eyes. I smiled back at him, taking in his unique face, and surveying all of him. "Shall we find a place to lie down, Sal?" I ask, still trying to get "Sal" to be more fluent for me. I look forward to tonight, when we can talk together, and learn things about each other we didn't know, get caught up on our lives since we've not known one another. I look back at him, and he is still looking at me, but doesn't say a thing. Somehow, that is why I like him.
Salvador -
Salvador nodded in response to Kegan's question. He tossed his head and gestured towards the North. "Let's go that way." Salvador said, assuming there would be some nice areas to rest. As they headed up that way he could sense the happiness in the air. Salvador tossed his head in the air and whuffed the delicious fresh air. He could feel his snakelike yellow eyes start to sparkle again. Salvador trotted forward and took a step closer to Kegan. Leaning over, he playfully tickled her chin with his whiskers. Salvador snorted and laughed, kicking up his feet and heading off in a lope in the soft, green grass on the forest floor.
Kegan -
We walked together, quietly, going North. There was a breath of cold air, filled with complete happiness from both of us. I smiled, and trotted forward to keep up with Sal's long strides. I caught a glimpse of his eyes, and my breath caught, they were so beautiful, I would have to ask him about them tonight. His body neared mine, so close I could hear his quiet breath, and he leaned over and tickled my chin with his whiskers. I giggled, and Sal laughed and bucked his way into a lope. I sprung into a fast lope to keep up with him, not being able to help myself from getting winded. I stopped for a minute in a grove of trees that would be a perfect place to sleep, "Sal! I found a good place to sleep!" I shouted out to him, as he was still loping happily away.