Freedom

[Reverse Psychology]

He danced and snorted, eyes rolling slightly as he let the wild wind control his movements across the golden expanse. Sprays of sand flew around him in all directions as he began to regain his composure, reminding himself that he was in unknown and more importantly, unclaimed territory.

Feeling slightly foolish but not regretting his actions (after all, no one was accompanying him,) the stallion began a brisk trot towards the rolling waves. The wind whipped and whistled around his face, urging him to once again give in to the temptations of a wild gallop accompanied by the odd buck and tossing of the head. And how could he say no?

Bunching his muscles, he lunged forwards, his stride swiftly turning from canter to gallop as he strained his legs and neck, his mane and tail billowing in the harsh wind like flying banners. His new-found freedom was giving him immense bursts of energy, allowing his unfaltering stride to eat up the ground as he neared the crashing waves. He tossed his head and began to slow his pace as he neared the sea; the cold, wet sand he was kicking up reminding him of how uncomfortable the icy sea could be in the harshness of winter.

Eventually bringing himself back down to a lumbering walking pace, Iago began to feel the after effects of a lengthy gallop when his sides began to heave tremendously and his strong legs began to buckle slightly. Still, nothing could be beat the rush of adrenaline one felt when racing across the vast expanse of a beach. He’d have to come here more often.

With his neck stretched and his head lowered lazily towards the sand, the stallion began to nose around, his radar-like ears twitching slightly as they scanned for any audible signs of life nearby. This relaxed state was brought to an abrupt end when he stiffened suddenly, his ears picking up the faint sound of hooves upon sand. His head shot up and his nostrils flared, all of his senses were suddenly focused on the approaching figure in the distance.

His mind whirled as he attempted to work out if it would be possible for him to leave the area before the other equine would be within speaking distance. He certainly did not recognise whoever was approaching and for him, introductions never boded well.

[Dove]

The stallion seemed to have sense her, Darn, I was enjoying watching him play and relax.

Creep much? Stalking him? Watching him relax is fun? What is wrong with you?

Don't make fun of me! I'm perfectly normal! Stop making fun of me! Lily protested to Karasu. She frowned, and looked near tears. She whipped her tail, trying to perish the embarrassed feeling inside her.

Lily trotted a little bit closer the sun beating upon her black whithers. She tossed her midnight mane and edged, cautiously, closer again. Her hooves clomped into the sand as she veered slightly into the water, letting it swish around her feet and then her legs. She continued towards him and smiled, her foolish, childish smile.

"Hi I'm Lily! What's your name?" Her happy and Innocent voice rang out, the crashing of the waves about them and the summer breeze whipping sand into her already messy mane.

She smiled and bucked, playfully. I wonder if he wants to play? I like playing

My God, I got stuck with a horse, with the mind of a two month old.

Nuh-uh! Don't make fun! It's not nice! I'm just lonely and you never want to play. I just want to frolic with someone and jump and run and gallop, the water splashing into my face and soaking my barrel!

Okay I'm sorry. I understand, but, if you knew what I went through you'd understand.

"Well! I don't know what you went through! So stop taking it out on me!" Lily yelled angrily. She flattened her ears and her eyes widened. She looked really embarresed and hoped the stallion didn't hear.

Ha! You just said that out loud!

[Reverse Psychology]

In most situations like this, he would have turned tail and sped off as fast as his legs could carry him by now but somehow, he was frozen to the spot. Maybe galloping off would be too awkward, maybe it would infer cowardice or maybe, just maybe, his curiosity was getting the better of him. Shrugging off past reminders that his inquisitiveness would only bring him to harm, he continued observe the approaching mare.

From what he could tell from her uncertain stride, she seemed to be having an inward struggle, a conflict of emotions. Was she just as unsure about this meeting as he was? His ears flickering uncertainly, he began to move unsteadily backwards, preparing himself for the inevitable flight across the beach. And then suddenly, she was all confidence. Iago was taken aback by her forward greeting and for a few moments, he was unable to reply, his brain trying to formulate a suitable response. What sort of impression was he supposed to give her? He watched Lily, bemused as she bucked playfully amongst the waves in a foal-like manner. He moved back further still, not to escape their chance meeting, but to ensure he did not get uncomfortably soaked by the freezing, salty water. How could she stand it?

Just as he had decided on an appropriate answer, the newcomer once again surprised him with an unexpected outburst. He snorted in amazement, his ears pinned back as he brought himself into a half-rear, ready to face the mare if she continued with her aggressive behaviour. But when he brought himself back down with hard thud, his hooves bringing up clouds of soft sand, he was surprised to see the other horse looking sheepish. Just what sort of equine was he dealing with here?

“What on earth are you on about?” He grunted, pawing at the sand impatiently. His instinct was telling him to flee whilst he still could, but his curiosity compelled him to remain and hear the unusual mare out. It wasn’t every day he met someone like this. “I’m Iago and as far as I know, we’ve never met before.” His distant-sounding voice was very keen to convey that he had no part in upsetting the mare. He hoped that somehow this would not provoke any further mood-swings.

[Dove]

"Oh, well, she's being a pest. It's not your fault." Lily said mournfully. It was obvious to everyone else that no one was there. But, Lily was a special thing for she had two minds cramed into one thouroughbred body. Her black coat was soaked and she enjoyed the stinging spray of the water.

Lily smiled at him again, "Iago's a nice name." It was kind of akward standing there, she wasn't sure if he was a nice horse and she didn't want to make him uncomfortable.

Well, nice going on that one! I think he's a tad bit uncomfortable. Let's go and get away from him. I don't like the looks of him.

No, I'm not gonna let you decide, your not in control! Besides you don't like anybody, 'side me.

Nuh uh! I liked my mom too.

Lily snorted and tramped away from the water. She shook out her coat mane and tail flying then again looked at the stallion, Iago. Darn, I've made him nervous, or uncomfortable! Or both... Lily tried to ignore Kara who was still mumbling and groaning and being a butt head in the background. She tried to smile comfortingly towards him, but, he kept backing up.

"Please! Don't leave!" Lily sounded desperate, "I'm sorry, but, I've been alone and I don't want to be alone right now, I want a friend. Lily's voice quavered and she lowered her head, dropping her ears and shoulders.

You dolt! Your not alone, I've been here. Karasu said this as gently as she could, for surprisingly enough her feeling has been a little hurt.

I know, but, it's not the same, you don't like to frolic and I want someone to play with me.

Your three years old! Act like it and grow up!

You haven't grown up, your the same whinny butt head you've been!

Well fine! Go jump off a cliff! That'll put us both out of our misery!

Lily ignored Kara, even though her heart was telling her to apologize, she had never seriously fought with Kara and loved her deeply, Karasu was Lily's only friend.

"I'm sorry, but, I just wanted a friend and someone to play with me" Lily, the 16.3 hh thouroughbred, was such a childish three year old, it was slightly endearing. She was sweet and just wanted playmate.

[Reverse Psychology]

His ears pricked forwards and he found himself becoming interested in a further explanation. “She? She who?” He murmured, glancing around and checking to make sure that no one else was there. His nagging suspicion that they were unaccompanied having been confirmed, he turned back to Lily with an inquisitive snort. There was still a niggling fear in the back of his mind and his senses were screaming at him to turn tail and leave whilst he still could but he forced himself to ignore his instincts in an attempt to learn more about the strange mare.

He backed away and raised his head when she moved onto the sand, trying to escape the freezing droplets of water being sprayed in all directions. “Don’t worry, I don’t think I’m going to be leaving any time soon.” He kept his eyes on the mare as he spoke in what he hoped was a reassuring voice whilst trying to determine her next moves. Lily looked completely deflated, metaphorically, of course, and Iago had no idea how to react properly to her clearly upset state. He had been taught how to fight and lead a herd but nobody had ever even mentioned to him about how to deal with an emotionally distraught mare. The stallion was at a complete loss as to what to do. He swished his tail and took a couple of hesitant steps sideways but still found himself unable to come up with a miracle cure to reverse her emotions.

“A… friend?” He echoed unsurely. Sure, he had played with other foals when he was much younger but he could barely recall their faces, much less their names so he doubted that they counted as being friends in any way. He turned around, his dark eyes scanning the beach. “I guess I wouldn’t mind another run, if you wouldn’t mind telling me more about yourself.” He said as he broke off into a brisk trot without waiting for a reply.

[Dove]

Lily looked at him incredulously, as if he were a mad man, which, of course was ironic, for it was she who was crazy, in an unknowing way. "Well, my sister of course, Kara!" She snorted in disbelief that he hadn't noticed a large black throroughbred like her.

Lily cocked her head, an adorable and childish expression on her face as she listened, in her mind she could hear Kara mumbling and grumbling in the background and she could her his next words. 'I don't think I'm going to leave?' Well, that's good! I just gotta' stop being so, uh, what ever is making him uncomfortable.

Good luck with that genius, you'd have to stop being you! Kara laughed meanly at Lily.

That's un-called for! Lily said back sadly.

“I guess I wouldn’t mind another run, if you wouldn’t mind telling me more about yourself.” Oh goody! We can run around together! Lily smiled and nodded as he broke into a fast trot, she cantered to catch up to him and slowed to match his brisk trot with her jovial and bouncy jog.

"There not much to know about me other then I have a sister and she's a grump. And I don't know where my dad is and, ummm, I don't remember our mom." Lily could never remember her past, it was as if someone just cleaned it, erased it all, just like a white board being erased after having been writen all over.

Muse: Gone
OOC: Sorry for the terrible and short post, I don't have any muse for Lily atm.