Babbling [Wicked]

[phantom]

"Cold! So very, very cold!" Despite the thick winter coat that covered Laurel's small frame the icy blasts of winter wind seemed to blast right through it as if it were merely gossamer that protected her skin from the elements. Though it had yet to snow in large quantities, there were a few forlorn flakes that drifted down from the gray sky to rest briefly on the brown grass before quickly melting away. All in all it was a rather depressing, frigid morning with the only point of color being the mare's bright chestnut roan coloring that spread gradually from the four white stockings on her legs. Looking about with bright blue optics, the fae angled towards a dense forest, hoping that it would provide some protection from the wind.

Though she only stood at a meager 13.3hh the Welsh girl carried herself as if she were 19hh, a fiery pride in every step she took. Her mother had been a rather shy, slender pony and while Laurel had never met her father she figured that she must have had more of him in her than she did of her mom. With a more robust, curvacious build than most ponies, the Welsh herd that she had been born into postulated that her father must have been more of a cob than a pony and for that they tended to look down on her for not being as "pure." Not that it bothered her, she still managed to annoy the hell out of every single one of them and the only equine that tolerated her was her mother and that was only because Laurel was her own flesh and blood. Shaking out her mane she shrugged it off, she rather liked it here a lot better than with the only family she had known, at least she didn't have to worry about the judgment that came of being a bastard child.

Entering into the thick forest she huffed irritably when the wind still managed to weave its way through the trees and chill her to the bone. "Geez, this wind is persistent!" Jogging to try and keep herself warm, Laurel made her way deeper in the forest, careful to remember what path she took as the last time she had been in forest she had gotten very lost and came across some rather unpleasant stallions. The faint sound of tumbling water caused her harks to swivel and she swung her blazed face towards it curiously. She had heard some equines talking about a hot springs that resided somewhere in these lands and she wondered if she might have stumbled across it inadvertently. Eagerly stepping out towards it, she wove between tall rock formations and shrubbery that seemed to cling to life despite the cold. As she moved deeper in she felt the winds subsiding, unable to follow her into the twist of rocks and she smiled victoriously. Even if this wasn't the springs at least she had finally found a place were the icy blasts couldn't follow.

The path slowly widened until it opened up a couple of feet before a small, crystalline pool whose water was being continuously replenished by the tumbling waterfall that fell into its embrace. Stepping forward to take a sip, a shiver ran down her back as the cold liquid ran down her throat. "So I guess this isn't a hot springs then." Mildly disappointed the mare moved to one of the mossy banks and decided to lie down and rest before once again braving the cold.

WICKED♪ ♫

[WICKED♪ ♫]

----- BABBLING -----

phantom // RASKOGR // haha <3

Winter had arrived like a punch in the jaw. The pleasant autumn weather had given way to the bitter cold all at once. There was no gentle transition from autumn to fall, but instead a sever drop in temperature and with it Raskogr's mood. His coat had grown thick with hair and he felt sluggish beneath it all. He felt like some wildebeest, not a young, strong stallion.

Nerissa had been busy lately, so Raskogr took the day to wander on his own. After she returned with a message from his father, Ras had been thinking more and more about his family in Jade Valley. How was his mother faring without him? And was Cicero enjoying not having his younger brother around to bother him? But quite honestly, Cicero needed to be bothered. He needed to be bothered to stand up for himself, to go and claim more mares, and to be the stallion he was expected to be. Ras shook his head at the thought of his gentle elder brother. Cicero had a kind heart, too kind, and his place was not upon a throne. But Raskogr's was, and he would see to it that he would find himself one once his third birthday arrived.

Paradise Falls was just a short distance through the trees in Bear's Den, and finding it was simple. Ras had spent much time there, and it had become a sort of solace for him. So when he discovered a strange mare napping beside his pool, he huffed. "Who are you? And what are you doing here?"

template by eliza @ TB & ADOXOGRAPHY

[phantom]

The sound of tumbling water falling rhythmically into the pool caused the little mare's eyes to slowly close. Her harks drooped down as she relaxed far away from the reaches of the cold winter and enjoyed the meditative falls. Moments like this were rare for Laurel as she was almost constantly talking even if no one was around to hear her. Exhaling in a rush she slipped into a dream.

She was young, barely a year old, her knobbly knees making her look lanky despite the fact that she would never attain the elegant heights of the average equine. Chasing after Laurel with a mixed look of exasperation and exhaustion was her mother, a diminished looking mare whose pelt was so gray it seemed to fade out if you looked at it too long. "Laurel, won't you please come back here?" Her pleading voice matched the older mare's demeanor almost exactly, somehow managing to convey a cringing uncertainty even when addressing her own daughter. Of course little Laurel only laughed at that, why would anyone in their right mind listen to their mother anyway? Galloping faster the filly crested a hill and finally came to an abrupt stop, blue eyes wide with delight. For there standing amongst the tall grass was her father. Though she couldn't see his face she knew it was him and she rushed down the slope. Slowly his neck curved and she saw-

"Who are you? And what are you doing here?" Jerking awake to the rough tones of a male, Laurel scrambled to her feet and almost fell into the pool before pinning her harks back and facing the intruder angerly. "I was taking a nap you giant headed nincompoop!" Glaring up at the stud, her irritation deepened when she realized that he probably was no older than two and had dared to disturb her at her great age of four. "You should show a little more respect for those older than you boy!" Stomping her little hooves into the moss she looked petulantly to the side. "Now, what do you say?" Flicking her tail she waited for the male's profuse apology that was surely forthcoming.