a ghost in your presence. )) [Open]

[tou]

Pounding. Four hooves slammed into the ground sequentially, each strike upon the earthen crust inflicting a minor abrasion upon the soil. His massive heart thudded against his innards, supplying his equally over sized bodice with the lifeblood it so desired. Alabaster mane whipped around his neck, contorting and twisting even more with each gentle zephyr that crept its way through the pinnacles of vegetation that surrounded him. Banner was like a torrent of white, streaming behind him in about as much elegance as such a large beast could have.

Darkness.

[/b]Not a ray of light streaked through the canopy overhead, shadows overwhelming and conquering the masqueraded lands in which he strode across. The sun had yet to breach the horizon, only adding to the seemingly perpetual darkness. His icy eyes had only slightly adjusted to such dimness, pupil expanding to its fullest capabilities in an attempt to allow the behemoth to actually distinguish the objects before him.

The fog was nearly as thick as the trees he maneuvered through. It choked the lands, pirouetting through the thick grove of foliage he was making his way through, this massive ivory toned creature like a ghost upon the Earth. Each movement of his lithe frame was like liquid, flowing right into the next action with great ease. Visible muscles rippled beneath his pigment-less hair follicles as he twisted his way through this labyrinth of boles, his steps upon the crust echoing through the forest, rebounding off of each tree that was within proximity. His pink nares flared, grappling the atmosphere around him and dragging it into his lungs with increasing difficulty the longer he ran. Each exhale was a heave of his lungs, the chilled air causing his breathes to be visible, simply adding to the excess moisture that blanketed the lower layers of the troposphere. The boy charged through this maze, weaving past each tree with surprising agility. He had no idea how long, nor how far he had been running like this, pushing his body to its limits.

With seemingly no reasoning at all, the brute stopped dead in his tracks. His barrel expanded rapidly with each breathe, the brute attempting to replenish his oxygen supply as he simply stood there. Eager muscles twitched slightly, the lactic acid already beginning to creep its way into his structure. A low neigh escaped his vox as he shook his skull lightly, keen honars atop his pate swiveling to hone in on each noise that broke the near silence. His neck went lax, dome dropping close to the ground as he tried to recover from his strenuous activity. His large lungs screamed in agony, frigid and sore from the cold air that he had been taking in. His appendages begged him to cease any and all movements, completely and entirely exhausted. Single knee buckled beneath him, though he caught himself in a messy stumble. With that he once more continued forward, though this time, easing his way through the thicket of vegetation.

It was quite a sight to watch this towering ungulate progress forward in such a forest. Many lower boughs hindered his trajectory, forcing him to duck every so often just to be able to continue forth. His pale tones made him noticeable - and vulnerable - to any and all that were within his presence. He seemed extremely nonchalant with the way he carried himself, pate neither carried high nor low, but in as comfortable a positioning it could be. His tail was limp at his flanks, only flicking every now and again, and even then only when necessary. Hooves dragged lightly, skimming the surface of the topsoil with each pace he took. Despite the major lack of visible trepidation, if not at least a slight worry that any creature should have when basically trespassing upon lands that were not their own, it was rather notable at how often his ears moved upon his crown. The snap of a twig, the fluttering of a bird's wings; all of it caught this brute's attention, at least in part. He was extremely aware of his surroundings, each inhale bringing in essences that he analyzed carefully, noting even minor changes. The beast pressed on, wandering these strange lands with a peculiar air about him, though entirely worry free. Past this calm exterior was a brave soul, tortured by many a demons and burdens that pressed down upon him. He was none other than Tou[/b]. And he had arrived at this unknown destination.
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[twi]

Pain. Seraph could feel the Shire's pain as it radiated off his very being. Even past the fact that he was evidently weary, agonizingly so, Seraph knew that there was something more, veiled as it was.
Though she was not directly aware of the fact, the diminutive mare was much attuned to suffering. While her life had not contained a surplus of it, she had experienced firsthand what mental anguish could do. Hence, she felt, unconsciously so, it was her duty to alleviate as much pain as she possibly could.
Standing a few meters off from the stallion, Seraph was not sure whether to approach him or not. He seemed calmer now, standing with each hoof firmly planted on the foggy ground. A flicker of what was it? - fear? stole through her. The stallion was big, indeed massive, a good four hands higher then her golden frame. Pure muscle bulged beneath his stark white coat as the stallion stood as though he were the king of this domain.
Seraph remained perfectly still, as she observed how attuned he was to his surroundings. By now, he was most likely was aware of her presence.
Her nostrils flaring slightly, Seraph approached him softly. She was lonely and willing to accept any as a companion, if only for a short time. Her hooves were muted by the moisture in the air and she made her way through the curling mist almost basking in its coolness. Unlike many of her kind, Seraph liked mist. She enjoyed how it snaked around her, bathing her pelt in its moist embrace. The way it covered her, making her appear a creature of the elements appealed to her tastes. There was a fair amount of it today, a byproduct of the October storm.
Her thin form cut through the foggy atmosphere as she made her way towards the Shire. She was not sure of what to expect from him, but had chosen to be undaunted by his impressive size. After all, who could resist her?

[tou]

His great structure stood still once more, causing his muscles to release a cascade of pain up and down his limbs. The tendons within his stoma grew taught as he ground his teeth together, trying to ignore the stabbing pain that worked through his body. The rustling of nearby ground clutter caused the varge's sonars to twist once more, directing themselves like parabolic dishes in the direction of the mare that seemed to form from the mist itself.

The Shire took another great inhale, his nasal passage, registering this odor of the other. Skull dipped as he simply confirmed his own thoughts, before returning to his original, tranquil positioning. His orbs didn't even venture to this other, the boy still scrutinizing each and ever minuscule detail of the embroidered environment that encompassed him. His mainframe was entirely motionless, the only movement being that of his critical, cerulean visionaries. The near silence was broken with words from this itinerant, his maw hardly moving as he spoke. "Thought I smelled another" He simply stated, no other monologue escaping from him for a dragged out moment or two. " Anyway. Your name? " He was not one for playing games, for fabricating elaborate ruses to perplex another. That was child's play, simply absurd in his own thinking.

The baron still had yet to even glimpse this other, only confirming her presence due to her distinct fragrance, and the low, steady breathing whose sound fell lightly upon his eardrums.
His caudal appendage flicked slightly, the tassels of tail whipping a mosquito into oblivion upon his pure alabaster hide. He waited with extreme patience, breathing slowly but jittery, each inhale expanding his ribs out, causing the muscles that covered them to terrorize him with torrents of pain. Just about when the muscles in his one leg were about to give, he shifted his massive weight with a low, hardly audible grunt. His harks were still taking part in their complex job. Single one was directed towards this other presence, while the opposing one continued to monitor his serene surroundings.

[twi]

Seraph stood, wondering if he was the sort who preferred to introduce himself first or wait and let the other make the first move. She did not have long to wait, but his words took her by surprise. He did not even bother to glance her way, standing regally, his breath coming hard. She thought she could make out an expression of pain, physical pain, passing over his features but the mist obscured everything.
His words reached her ears unexpectedly, distorted slightly as a chilly breeze toyed with them. His voice was low, not melodious like her own, but they held certain richness. Though Seraph didn't like to be caught by surprise, it took a moment for his words to register.
"Thought I smelled another."
She could not tell whether his tone stemmed from weariness or plain disinterest. It was not flat per say but expressed little warmth.
"Anyway. Your name? " He continued.
Normally, Seraph would have felt slightly annoyed by his blunt, interrogative statement, but she had the impression that it was just his nature.
"I am Seraph. Forgive me if I intrude, for I am but wandering here and am not aware of territorial boundaries."
She was not sure why she added that last sentence, but something about the Shire's manner seemed to indicate possession of the area. She decided that it did not hurt to add extra courtesy when one was unsure.

[tou]

He observed as the mist made serpentine wisps around each object within its grasp, as if claiming it for its own. He felt as if this fog has a certain life to it, with a personality to match its cold grasps as it wrapped around the lands. Such tendrils too danced about his legs, crawling across his skin in ethereal liveliness. He suppressed a shudder, his skull finally maneuvering to look to this other.

Brows rose, as the first thing he noted was her compact size. She was seemingly Lilliputian in comparison to him, her frame hardly a fraction of his. He looked her up and down, examining her small physique with great care, not passing over a single subtle detail. His gaze finally lifted to meet her eyes, the brute's massive cranium lowering and turning towards his chest in an acknowledging nod. Vocal box once more was struck with his tunes as he began to respond to her apologetic sentences. "Intruding upon my lands you are not. ", he simply stated, before continuing. "Intruding upon another's, perhaps. I know not these lands, I simply traverse them." His vocals ceased once more, allowing himself to try and recover from the pain that insisted that he double over. Yes, he was a nomad. A simple wanderer, like a lost spirit that found itself in the realm of the living. Nowhere to go. Nowhere to hide. No safe haven to retreat back to. Thrown into such a world to fend for itself, to suffer until it found out how to adjust to this strange environment. His cool gaze had yet to break from hers, the brute's breathing like a metronome as he tried to steady it once more. He hadn't quite realized that he hadn't given her his calling. However, she had not requested it, so he deemed it irrelevant at this moment.

[twi]

Again, the Shire took his time in responding. Though he could have easily given Seraph the impression that he was the slow sort, she doubted this was so. It seemed due more to a complex, thoughtful mental process than simply his being a slow thinker. While she was the sort who was always on her toes, always having a ready response, she appreciated those who thought through life.
He lifted a ponderous head to reveal startlingly azure eyes, a stark contrast to his pale, almost ghostly coat. However, as Seraph studied him, she decided his eyes did fit into that mystical look he posessed, the hazy lighting lending them illumination. Lighting or no, they were brighter and clearer than hers were. Her orbs were paler, grayer, possessing a muted shade of blue that did not draw attention to itself, as though her genetic makeup had chosen to put the emphasis on the sheen of her palomino-paint pelt.
While Seraph had been observing his eyes, waiting for his reply, they had been playing over her, observing every miniscule detail. Normally, she did not mind scrutiny. Indeed, she usually enjoyed it for she knew that her physical appearance was nothing to be ashamed of, but the thoroughness of his observation was almost unsettling. She had encountered those who had the knack of appearing to peer into another's very soul, but this Shire wasn't like that. Instead, he inspected her frankly, missing nothing despite the ever-swirling mist.
Uncomfortably she shifted her hooves a bit, feeling slightly unsettled. Then he spoke.
” Intruding upon my lands you are not. Intruding upon another's, perhaps. I know not these lands, I simply traverse them."
Seraph wouldn't have minded much had it been his realm, as he didn't strike her as hostile, but she was glad that she could meet with this other equine on equal terms.
"I too am something of a traveler. But so far, I have not encountered any other in these lands aside from you. I came here in search of better grazing grounds." She paused a moment and then continued, "What brings you here?"
She hadn't missed his failure to offer his name but doubted he had anything to hide. She would just have to ask him for it.

[tou]

Tou noted how she squirmed under his intense gaze, his sonars catching the movement of her appendages while his eyes were locked to hers. A heavy cough caused his sides to heave as he looked away awkwardly, not wishing to cause discomfort in this other. They resumed their exploration of the forestry encased in the haze, the brute's vocals stirring to life once more in apologetic tones. " Sorry. " He spoke, having meant to cause no perturbation in his scrutinizing. He too shifted his weight, in part due to the slight awkwardness he found himself in, as well as the soreness that had begun to flood through his tendons.

This maiden's words struck him, her question dancing upon his harks as she spoke. He took a moment to ponder how to respond, before finally doing so. "You are my first run in as well. He paused for a moment, still enticed by the graceful, fluid movements of the wisps about them. " My way of life, I do suppose. I'd consider myself a nomad, by definition. This is so far just another milestone in my travels. " He spoke matter-of-factly. He eventually gave up on this break in eye contact, his orbs traveling to hers once more to fully engage in this dialogue. He turned his bodice as well to thoroughly interact with this other, his large hooves dragging across the topsoil. The brute has stored this face within his retention for future recognition, matching it with her unique aroma and name. It was only at that precise moment that it dawned upon the behemoth that he had not informed her of his own calling. His articulation stirred to life once more as he informed this female. "I go by Tou." he spoke, dipping his large cranium once again in greeting to the other. Chilled eyes looked to this other, calmly awaiting her reactions.

[twi]

Seraph wondered whether his apology was for the racking cough or his previous scrutiny. She arched her neck a little higher to peer at him, his breathing still coming heavily. She could not help but feel a bit of concern extending towards this unknown stallion. He was obviously spent, she could tell. Surely, a creature so mighty must have pushed himself to great exertion to cause such effects. She considered asking but pushed the thought aside. He seemed a bit withdrawn and she would hate to pry.
"You are my first run in as well. My way of life, I do suppose. I'd consider myself a nomad, by definition. This is so far just another milestone in my travels," he said. Then he paused a delicate moment before adding, "I go by Tou."
She nodded, acknowledging his statement before tilting her small head, asking, "Your way of life, so you tend to travel in less populated areas?"
There went her curiosity again. Always poking its nose where usually wasn't wanted. Hoping to amend her statement, she added, "not that it's any of my business. You needn't answer that if you don't want to."
Looking at the majestically pale beast before her, Seraph decided that she was fully intrigued. What was he doing here, all alone and unattached, a wandering soul? She herself was also indulging in some nomad-like meanderings, however she had a purpose in them. She wanted stability, a place where she knew she could permanently belong. She doubted such a, environment existed in this forest however. Maybe the out-lying meadow on the outskirts of the forest would be more promising.

[tou]

A single beam of pale light managed to buffalo its way through the treetops, enchanting the small area that it struck. The minuscule water droplets that had collected upon the vegetation overnight glistened with renewed vigor, holding within them a mirrored reflection of the outside world, blended together with the colors that combined to form white light. His visionaries caught such a change in his peripheral vision, the boy's large dome maneuvering to get a good look at this natural phenomena occurring within the dew. He dismissed the thoughts that had begun to direct themselves towards the liquid with a snort, dispelling the carbon from his lungs. His attention once more returned to this fae, the brute's caudal appendage flicking in slight annoyance with himself for having been so relatively easily distracted by such a common event as the refraction of ultra violet rays. It was only at this particular moment that it struck the leviathan that the sun must have obviously, at least, crested the horizon.

It was then that her inquiry pressed upon his eardrums, She soon backed up such with a words that assured him he wasn't obligated to answer. Either way he did, maw allowing his words to flow smoothly. " I suppose you could say that. Whilst the areas of less population are much more preferred, I simply direct myself down the quickest route. " Lapis Lazuli toned eyes directed themselves away from her once again, peering into the lightening forestry about them. Single massive hind dagger lifted from the ground before pressing into the earth once more, the boy anxiously fidgeting. Tou hadn't quite expected to still be in this relative location at this time, having anticipated being a little farther down the path mapped out in his skull.

Without much warning he pivoted, facing once more the direction he had been headed in when they had stumbled upon each other. "Sincere apologies, but I must continue forth." He spoke lightly, not meaning to put the other off in such a fashion, though he wished to stick to his mental schedule. " Feel free to tag along for the walk, however. " he offered, taking a single, slow step forward. His muscles had slightly recovered, though were still protesting as he readied himself to ease forward once again. He was certainly not going to press himself as hard this time. "That is, if you don't have better things to do than simply meander through this forest with one such as myself." Tones were cool, rather soothing, as he offered such up to her. Muscles within his stoma tightened into a ... wait, what was this? Ah, so this grunt did have emotions! What a surprise ... He had offered up a small, half smile to the other, simply a form of invitation to continue on for a short while with him. " Besides," he added, "I could use the company." A low chortle escaped from his vox, another rare occurrence. He was warming up to this one, allowing a handful of shallow emotions to be revealed, mainly due to the fact that he was rather surprised at her lack of hostility, as many a equine now had embedded into the very fiber of their being at this day and age.

[twi]

Seraph noticed his distraction, as the Shire's shimmering eyes broke connection with hers and focused on something in the distance. Normally, she would have felt some annoyance at the fact, however she chose not to take offense. Would have been foolish of her to do so anyway. She was just used to being the center of attention.
He snorted and turned a ponderous head back to look at her, presumably contemplating a reply. Seraph decided that she rather liked this stallion and the way he treated her. He was the anithesis of overbearing, reserved but not distant. It was a welcome change, for she despised those who fawned.
"I suppose you could say that. Whilst the areas of less population are much more preferred, I simply direct myself down the quickest route."
She nodded absently, slightly amused by his choice of words. Was he always so formal? While she was tempted to attempt to match his style, she knew quite well that colloquialism was the way she spoke and always would.
"Sincere apologies, but I must continue forth," he added. Ixori was going to reply that she did not mind, though she had already decided that she did, however he followed up his statement with an invitation to join him. She had almost decided to decline, hating to feel a tag-a-long, but then something like a smile darted across his features. Seraph realized that this was the first time she had seen such an expression from him and guessed that it was something of a rare occurrence.
"Happily then, fellow traveler. Do you have any destination in mind?" She asked.
She wondered if she should have added the last sentence but since he had not taken offense at her previous question, she doubted he would do so now. Normally she was not so cautious, it simply was not her nature, but something about him was so different that it caused her to act accordingly.