Rainforest Cliffs
The level of relief was obvious, visible in the swing of her awkward, slow gait, the bob of the giant head perched at the tip of her scrawny, horizontal neck, but perhaps it was most notable in the softness again written through her strange, young expression. Furry ears bounced freely upon the pinnacle of her pointed poll and her eyes rolled gently, even casually, from left to right, scanning the changing scenery around them for any shift or movement. The region beneath the Portal was behind them. Pausing for a moment, Eira’s thoughts announced with considerably more brightness, “This is the rainforest, now.” The young horse offered a forward sweeping gesture with her narrow maw, lips curled into a fresh, unbridled smile, and afterwards, her too-large head swung back to allow her curious eyes vantage of the other. She sought the mare's thoughts about this through expression, gaze swimming between the pretty pools highlighting the face beneath her horn, examining the lines riddling her exquisite complexion for any suggestion made available. The storm she had generated still rumbled in the distance, its black presence lost beneath a new canopy of thicker foliage. The wind by the border where they were halted was less and above them, the sky was a milder, bleak grey. They still had an awfully long journey ahead—secretly, the sickly waif dreaded it, but this creature offered nice company and that soothed a good portion of the burden. “Come on!” Eira’s mind continued only when enough time had been given for the other to absorb her changing circumstance; bent knees lead them forward once more, cloven toes finding a path to follow that was well travelled and comfortably broad between the thickening forest timber. Many times this labyrinth had swallowed her… It was difficult to be sure of the time. Eira was aware that a solid span of hours had passed since they’d met in the shadows, and fatigue nagged constantly at her thin, weak frame. Occasionally, when the weariness felt unbearable, the scrawny filly asked her friend for a break and slipped beneath a light blanket of sleep to recover—never did she seek to nourish herself with browse. When deepening shadow signalled the fading light of afternoon, the ease had been lost from her gaunt appearance and nervousness was leaking into the contours of her expression; this (the whole of the Rift too), after dark, was not a safe place for wounded souls without protection. Eira had been chased by many of the predators in the rainforest, and dreaded demise should they not be able to evade them now. Another problem dawned too, as they came upon the first rocks before the cliff. “I…” her mind stuttered, wracked with guilt and swollen shame, “I think we’re lost.” At that point, the filly’s stride came to a stop and she turned with remorseful eyes to find the other mare. |
@Amarantha
