Keep It Interesting - Open

[LadyLux]

The sound of the waterfall crashing into the lake filled in the space between the songs of birds. Grazing peacefully next to the waters, Valkyrie was the only equine around. She lifted her head to look a look around the territory. It was a land that bordered on the larger side, filled with sweet grass and thin tree lines. Traversing here was easy and this place was so worth the visit. Truthfully, Valkyrie frequented Kanawha Falls. This was her favorite place and a nice escape from the world in all it's serenity. But today, Valkyrie was just bored. Most of the land she'd explored over the past few days were barely touched and she hadn't come into contact with anyone. Her sociable nature was clawing at her insides and the lack of mental stimulation gave her a headache.

She shook her body forcefully, trotting to the water's edge to drink. Small ripples formed on the pool of water at her touch. She lifted her head, swallowing the last of the cool liquid as she scanned the treeline, pointed ears locked forward in anticipation. For a moment, she was still, hoping that something, anything would happen. When there was nothing, she sighed in a sharp huff and turned to continue grazing. When that did nothing to quell her boredom, the mare stamped a hoof impatiently. She lunged into a canter that transitioned seamlessly into a brisk walk, fading into the trees as she left the clearing. If the mare had no one to talk to, she'd simply work on her training. While weaving through trees at a full-on sprint may look crazy from the outside, it was really just a test of her speed, agility, and reaction time. But, after only a few minutes, and nearly running headfirst into a tree, Valkyrie was even done with that idea. She made her way back to the falls, looking of the area around her once more. Still nothing and no one.

With a snort, the rabicano mare plopped into the tall grass, chewing at the ends as her amber eyes scanned the falls. The sun would be setting in the next few hours and to be honest, the mare would rather travel during sunset than in this humid heat. It wasn't long before her eyes closed that she began to dream about her future. Valkyrie, the ruler of her own herd and future conqueror of all of Atera. The mare who would go down in history and be known far and wide. She would turn this entire world into a paradise.

[Angie]

Genevieve had been on her own for sometime now and had began to grow lonely. Having past a few lone figures on her way to Atera she could have stayed with any one of them, but she wouldn’t settle for a life as some pig’s squeeze. Though none had been that bad expect one colt the color of coal who thought he had been going to turn her into his queen and throw a sissy fit when she said no thanks. Other than him the rests wouldn’t have been that bad of a life. Even so she wasn’t really willing to simply settle. That simply wasn’t her style. No Eve would much rather find another mare to hang out with. Joining a small band of mares had been on her mind for a while, but she hadn’t found such a thing. Those she had came across had hung out with her for a while before parting ways to return to their families.

Letting out a sigh the mare slowly made her way though the trees. She was thirsty and could hear the sounds of falling water so the girl decided to go check it out. At least with a waterfall that meant water and probably food. Could make a decent place to rest for a while and who knows maybe she’ll find someone to talk too. Eve only hoped it wasn’t a stallion, boys could be so annoying. Some girls too, but she found herself able to get a long better with other ladies easier.

To her delight following the sounds of the water lead her to the falls and they were such a pretty sight. Moving over to the water she hadn’t spotted the other mare sleeping nearby. Not at first anyways, but while taking a drink the girl spotted something in the grass on the other side of the waterfall from her. Being that she had arrived in an area that had a pool of water between her and the stranger Eve decided to just walk through the water. It was cold, but felt rather nice as she splashed though it while making her way over. ”Hello, this is such a lov - oh!” She called out in a polite but excited to see someone tone as she came closer, but as she got closer and noticed the other mare was asleep she became quiet. Instead she just stopped in her tracks still in the water and looked around them as she stood watch over the sleeping girl waiting for her to wake up.

Ooc: Hope you don’t mind me having her hop in.

[LadyLux]

Valkyrie was alone in this dreamland, as she often times was. It was rare that another face crossed her path in her dreams, she was almost always alone. And here she was, in the forest that had burned to ash. This was a new dream that had only begun occurring recently, but Valkyrie felt so connected to it. She trudged through the ashes as if she ruled the world. She was relaxed as she moved and looked straight ahead. Embers still burned in the trunks of fallen trees and the smoke filled her lungs, though it did not seem to phase her. It was as if she were immortal - if not just a ghost of the past. Without warning, a voice echoed across the now barren landscape, sharp and cut short. Valkyrie tensed, whipping her head around, but nothing lay before or behind her. Just destruction. Turning forward once more, Valkyrie cried out in horror to find her staring back at herself so closely, her other self's whiskers tickled her muzzle. Almost as soon as the cry left her lips, her other self whispered so sharply that Valkyrie could not make out the words, but they terrified her.

Waking with a jolt, the mare was on her sharp hooves in an instant, staring daggers at the mare in the water before relaxing, realizing she was not a threat. For a moment, Valkyrie simply stared at the mare, wondering how long she'd been there. Valkyrie quickly realized that she was more tired than she'd thought. Tired enough to have someone wade through water, call out to her, and stand watch over her, all without her stirring. Still breathing rather heavily, Valkyrie lowered her head and yawned. "Sorry, I must have been dreaming." She said, giving her small body a hefty shake. She swished her tail, yawning again. "Are you travelling alone?" Valkyrie asked, not able to smell the lingering scent of other equines on this mare. She didn't look to be much smaller than Valkyrie and she, too, was patterned. She was a pretty little mare and from where Valkyrie stood, she seemed friendly.

Slowly she managed to make her way completely back to reality. "Oh, sorry. I'm Valkyrie." She said, offering a friendly smile as she lifted her head slightly. She cocked her left hind leg and let out another yawn before shaking her head. She wasn't always so awkward and out-of-sorts, but it had been a restless journey. Spending three years with a group of mares, seeing the ugliness of the world for what it really was, and then being alone for so long had taken it's toll on the vixen. But, the nap had been refreshing enough and she would soon be back to her usual self.

ooc: of course I don't mind! I think these two will be good friends. ^^

[Angie]

Standing there Eve scanned around them as she stood watch. The mare had been excited to find another mare to possibly hang out with for a while, but with the other girl sleeping she was fine just quietly watching out for danger. She didn’t know this land though so she hoped she hadn’t crossed into another home. Though she hadn’t smelt the warnings of this place belonging to a beast. Looking away from the girl she catch moving just out of the corner of her eye when the girl startled awake. [smear:#339623]”Oh! Easy now.”[/smear:#0e0d95:0] She cooed as she took a few steps back. Giving the stranger breathing room she looked her over. There didn’t seem to be any wounds upon her. ’That is good.’ Eve thought to herself having been worried that maybe the sleeping woman had been hurt.

[smear:#339623]”I see well hopefully it was a good sleep. Sorry for stirring you.”[/smear:#0e0d95:0] She said calmly as she eyed the girl for a moment before looking around them. Shifting she moved once more this time she walked out of the water. As she walked onto the back she left a few feet between them Eve had just wanted to get out of the cool liquid. As refreshing as it was she would prefer to be on dry land. It was easier to move that way in case the setting became a battleground for some random reason.

[smear:#339623]”Nice to met you. I am Genevieve, but you can call me Eve if you like.”[/smear:#0e0d95:0] her voice was polite, but her tones was a bit drained as she said her own name. It wasn’t that she was tired of her name, she just hated saying it as her so called father used to always say it to try to control her. [smear:#339623]”For a while I traveled with another mare, but for a long while I have been alone.”[/smear:#0e0d95:0] Her head nodded softly as she spoke. Looking around them listening as she expected someone to randomly walk up out of thin air or something before she looked back at Val. [smear:#339623]”What about you?[/smear:#0e0d95:0] She asked tossing her mane out of her face as the wind started to blow it into her face.

[LadyLux]

This newcomer seemed to be of the gentle sort. So far, she had shown nothing but kindness and even concern for Valkyrie it seemed, and the vixen wondered what it must be like to care so deeply about others. While Val wasn't heartless and had always typically been quite caring of others, those emotions only really came out in unique situations. The average, every day woe-is-me card didn't work on Valkyrie, and she certainly didn't go out of her way to help others if it wasn't anything too serious. In the same instance as now, Valkyrie was certain she would have kept walking, but this mare did not.

”I see well hopefully it was a good sleep. Sorry for stirring you.” Val laughed lightly, the brightness returning to her amber eyes are she began to awaken fully. "It was a very good nap, indeed. And you did not disturb me." She said re-assuredly. The little mare that stood before her began to exit the water, introducing herself as she did so. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Genevieve." She said with a nod of her head. "I have not been traveling along for very long.." Valkyrie trailed off. "Perhaps about two months or so.. It is still fairly new to me." She admitted. "I traveled with an all-mare group from the time I was born up until I took my recent leave."

The weight of her mother's death still wore heavy on her heart, but she did not want to think about or speak of that yet. It was still much too soon and the wounds too fresh. It was hard enough not knowing if her mother was proud of her decisions. Would she be happy Valkyrie was able to move on and live her own life? Or would she have argued that Val should have stayed with the group? A soft grunt escaped that rabicano as her heart ached. She quickly shut those thoughts away and returned her focus back to the mare before her. It was only now that she noticed the mare before her seemed tense. "You're safe here." Valkyrie said softly, and it was true. These lands were relatively safe and Val had taken a strong liking to them during her journey after stumbling upon them by accident. She'd never been attacked here or felt unsafe, and the mare before her could trust that was definitely safe if next to Valkyrie.