NORTHERN LIGHTS (phantom)

[WICKED♪ ♫]

"Come on, Big Brother!" Venetia galloped up the dirt path away from her elder brother, and he smiled after her. She was doing well today and hadn't been coughing much. But he worried that she would start if she kept running up and down the path like that.

"Slow down, Venetia," he called after her, but she ignored him. He was forced to canter after her, but he found her smiling and laughing when he caught up.

"You're so slow," she laughed, and then squealed when he nipped her playfully on the rump.

"I let you win."

"Did not!" she countered. Then she stuck out her little pink tongue. "Look! There it is!" The yearling trotted up to the edge of the pool. There was steam curling into the cold winter air, and the water was foggy with heat. "Can I get in?"

"Of course. We didn't come here just to look at it." He walked up to the edge and then slowly slipped into the warm water. It eased around his muscles and forced a sigh from his ashen lips.

Venetia decided to jump in, and she had launched herself into the water before Wilhelm could stop her. But she was alright, and she shook the water from her pretty, sea-foam green eyes with a twinkling laugh.

You're going to give me a heart attack," Wilhelm mumbled, and Venetia rolled her eyes at him.

"You're such a worry wart."

"For good reason-" he started to say, but Venetia waded off and ignored him. Wilhelm sighed, fluffing his forelock out of his eyes. He needed to get them out of Bear's Den and find Tigerlily. Then maybe he could stop worrying all the time.

ooc: for phantom and elaine!

[phantom]

Panting, Elaine strode quickly across the northern lands looking nervously over her shoulder every so often with anxious eyes. Flaxen tail streaming behind her the painted mare pushed herself to keep moving. Though it had been a few weeks since she had washed up on Mustang she still wasn't quite to full health yet as there was a significant lack of nutrient rich grazing which was the main thing she needed to return to her former strength. Though Stolas may not want that as it would only increase her attempts to run away. Slowing to a walk the mare thought of her "savior" bitterly. If he hadn't come along she would undoubtedly be dead, her body left to feed the seagulls before being swept back out to sea, however as soon as she had been able to stand up he had herded her to his home without any explanation and came to the conclusion that she owed him a debt for what he had done. Shuddering the fae dreaded to think just what the pale stallion had in mind for his payment.

A fit of coughing interrupted her thoughts and she hung her head low when they were over, breathing shallowly so as to not upset her raw lungs. She knew she would never be able to fully outrun Stolas, in fact she was half way convinced that he let her get a decent head start before tracking her down and dragging her back again. Sighing, she looked ahead anyway, perhaps today would be the day that he would underestimate her ability to go just a little bit farther.

As the mute traveled further north her brow furrowed curiously when it seemed that the air was getting warmer. How odd... Slowly the brown grass beneath her hooves revitalized itself and she watched as it became greener with each step. Peering ahead she noticed a series of puddles that seemed to be.. steaming? Reaching the odd pools Elaine lowered her nares to gingerly touch the surface of the water and jerked them back up when they encountered the unexpected heat. Looking apprehensively at the water she moved a few feet away from the edge and instead closed her lips around a mouthful of the emerald grass and chewed thoughtfully. She had been planning an expedition to the hot springs in her homeland after her trip to see the land of ice, however since she soon found herself adrift at sea she never had the chance to go. Apparently this shallow pools were the equivalent thing in this foreign land.

Surprised when she found herself completely full from grazing on the sweet grass Elaine decided to give the water another try. Walking slowly up to the closest pool she gingerly stepped in and determined that it really wasn't all that bad. Going deeper until the warm waters stretched to just below her shoulders she heaved a contented sigh, feeling like an enormous weight had just rolled off her shoulders. Closing her eyes she forgot about the fact that Stolas was probably hunting her down right now and simply enjoyed her first chance to relax since coming to this cursed place.

The sound of splashing jolted her back to reality and she spun sluggishly in the water to observe the newcomers. Two young equines (perhaps brother and sister?) had jumped into the water and apparently not seen her, for which she was very grateful. Frozen in place the mare considered running, but there was no way that she'd be able to leave without them seeing her, perhaps they just wouldn't notice her? Chewing on her lip nervously the mare started to slowly move backwards, trying to create space between them so that she might slip away.

ooc: hehe... got a little carried away! i'm so excited! WICKED♪ ♫