A moment of serenity.

[Whitie]

The vast lake lay before the red roan like a shimmering blue carpet. The forest behind him caused his appearance to stand out, but Akilles was a proud stallion. His head was held high as he approached the lake, the sun making it glisten as it rippled with soothing motion. The leader of the Gloriosum herd was a title he had earned and wore like a proud badge. This lake was his. The pure waters were provided by the mountains and streamed off into the other territories. The lands were vast and wide and he was certain that many other horses populated the area, but there was just him and his daughter in this vicinity.

Akilles lowered his muzzle towards the cool waters and drank, his tail swishing back and forth before settling and his head rose, ears cocking back and then forth as the screeching of an eagle sounded nearby. It soared overhead, lowering towards the lake’s surface before capturing a fish within its talons and retreating towards the surrounding forest. The stallion shook out his mane before he started to casually walk around it’s perimeter, a daily routine he did everyday just incase some being intruded into his territory.

He was protective of his lands, especially having his daughter around. Her safety was a top priority to Akilles, even though he knew she was old enough to fend for herself. She wasn’t just a young filly anymore, even though he liked to treat her like one on occasion just to joke around. Another snort escaped him as he walked, his hooves clicking whenever they made contact with a rock. His ears were shifting this way and that as the sounds of nature surrounded him, filling him with peace.

[silverday]

Shadow was not one to usually succumb in the fleshy desires. But this one, the white mare was so desperately craving even though her mind was tugging at her to continue on to help others. Today, she was at Gloriosum, or at least the creamello thought so. It'd been many seasons since Shadow had been here to offer her help as a healer and today was a marvelous day.

Bright and comfortable, the air felt marvelous on Shadow who had recently travelled from the Glaciers to the present place. Quite a contrast, it was! Her long sips of the cool water made the Tennessee Walker felt revived from her weariness as she looked up in the corner of her eye.

There, a bright red roan stallion, a powerful looking beast was walking along the rocks...His eyes and his behavior said that he was still deep in thought, but his hooves on rocks was not a smart thing.

"Excuse me!" Shadow bolted from the water's side. "Dear sir, I am a healer...Is there anyone in your herd in need of one? A checkup, perhaps you would like to learn which herbs are good to eat and not?" She offered immediately, strictly all business at the moment.

[Whitie]

Akilles’ head turned as he came to a halt, his ears tilted forwards as his brown eyes studied the vibrant white mare. Her presence was curious, but she didn’t appear hostile for the time being. He was still guarded though for the sake of his leader title and his daughter. Just where was she? Akilles stole a moment to glance around, but only saw the familiar nature surrounding him.

“Oh?” the red roan stallion murmured as he stepped away from the water’s edge, nearing the forest before stopping in his tracks once more with his brown gaze stuck on the mare. “Healing and herbs? I don’t believe anyone is in need of healing here, but learning something new wouldn’t hurt,” he replied with a polite dip of his head, his tail flicking behind him. “I am Akilles, by-the-by. The leader of this territory. Who might you be, miss?”

[silverday]

Shadow smiled wide, her warm attitude was even more heightened that the stallion wasn't at all very...Mean like some others. Her head was held high out of habit, ears friendly perked forward.

"A pleasure to meet you Akillies. I am Shadow. You rule over a beautiful land, and when you would like to learn about herbs, you ask me at anytime. In exchange, I would like to rest here as a guest for a few days." She politely asked.

[Whitie]

“A pleasure. You may stay here as a guest,” Akilles replied, though was still cautious of her. A scent of the mountains lingered from her, but there was a mixture of the trees and earth as well. Curiosity was getting the better of him as he studied the white mare’s figure before looking away and eying the lake’s perimeter once more. A fish broke the water’s surface, snatching a dragonfly within its gaping mouth before it was followed by another splash as it returned to the depths of the lake.

The stallion snorted before his attention returned to the mare. “Well, make yourself comfortable, Shadow,” he spoke, his expression seeming friendly as his ears perked with interest. His head turned as he began his walk once more, the sun shown brilliantly upon his red and white hued hide. Today was lovely overall and he hoped that it remained that way. As long as he didn’t have to fend off any hostile beings, then he would remain content.

[silverday]

She blinked. That was easy. A bit too easy. But if it meant Shadow could rest, then it was worth the attitude the mare received from the red roan.

Well, that settled it though! Shadow followed Akilles silently, staying a good distance away. She was a bit sheepish to admit she wanted to ask him where she could lay down and sleep but then again...If she followed...

[Whitie]

Akilles continued to walk casually, his ears flicking back every so often as the sounds of the mare following him lingered towards him. He was planning on keeping a close eye on her, wanting to make sure she would behave and respect his lands. So far, it seemed she meant well but that didn’t mean he could trust her right away.

“So, whereabouts do you come from, Shadow?” he spoke, passing a glance back at her before shifting his gaze ahead of himself. The low grumble of the waterfall sounded off in the distance. Such a soothing sound it was. The choir of nature in a way that he couldn’t imagine living without. The forever pounding waters were strong as they fell from the mountains, providing the lands with pure, crystal clear liquid that nourished the earth and provided the vegetation that he lived off of.

[Whitewhisker]

Adielaide or Ade as she was called for short was bored. She had played chase with a raccoon, swam in the lake and taken a nap below a large oak tree. Before she would have visited the other herds, played with foals of her own herd and caused any kind of mischief possible. But with only her Dad left she knew she had to give him a break from all the pestering sometimes.

It had been three days since the red roan girl had saw her father and she figured it high time to do so now. Leaving her oak tree in a spirited trot she wove her way through the trees on a familiar inciaible trail. Her father should be on patrol so she knew to search for him near the lake. But as she reached the tree line she noticed a white horse following him confuaed she atopped and just stared before letting out a questioning whinny, asking her father if this stranger was safe or if she should hide away once more.

[Whitie]

A familiar whinny catch Akilles attention, causing the stallion ‘s tail to lift as his head swung around in the direction of the young red roan mare. It had been days since he last saw Adielaide. It was in his nature to worry about her wellbeing even though he knew better than to doubt her ability to take care of herself. She was two years old, still young in his eyes but she had the potential to become the leader one fine day. But until then, he was going to care for her.

A nicker escaped him with a slight dip of his head. “Ade, this is Shadow. A healer of sorts,” Akilles spoke up. His body turned so he was facing his daughter as he glanced towards the white mare before looking towards the young red roan. “She doesn’t mean any harm and will be staying here for a few days. Perhaps she can teach you a bit about herbs if you’d like to learn,” he added in a matter-of-fact tone of voice.

[silverday]

Shadow heard the whinny and held back her reply and came to side with Akilles, nodding politely to the identical, but younger red roan. This filly was quite cute, and even had the same air as her sire...

"How do you do?" Shadow asked. "A pleasure to meet you."

[Whitewhisker]

Upon Akilles's claim of it being safe, Ade had approached at a high stepping trot that he had already been traveling in before pausing. Her father's words were strong in her forward ears before she looked to the pale mare. She could tell by his matter-of-fact voice that he wanted her to learn what this mare had to offer and really someday it might prove to be useful. "I'm Adeilaide" she said with a faint bob of her head in a polite gesture towards the mare. "What it is about herbs that you have to teach?" she asked.

[Whitie]

The stallion was pleased as he looked over towards the two, his ears perked before he looked off. There was still plenty of land for him to patrol, but for now he would have to make sure that Shadow would bring no harm to Ade. Akilles turned to face the lake, taking in the wonderful scent that lingered from it. It was hard to describe that water held a scent. Perhaps it was from the moist earth and the weeds? Whatever provided it was pleasing to the red roan stallion. His attention drifted over what was there to observe, his eyes ever so watchful like that of a hawk. His ears were lively at every sound, keeping alert and on guard as he held his ground with his held high.

[silverday]

Shadow smiled. This filly was quick. But perhaps it was because the creamello mare noticed there was a silent conversation carried on between father and child that she was mute to.

"Everything, Adeilaide. Some herbs are life giving and others are deathly. It is up to you to find and eat the ones who give benefits to yourself and show them to others to eat." She explained. "For example...That purple, budding flower with the grey stems. That's lavender. It will calm you and make even the most grumpy horses happy a bit."

[Whitewhisker]

Ade looked to the flower the mare was talking about before looking back. Never before had she ate anything besides grass, her mother warning her that anything else might make her sick. It would seem odd to suddenly change that over a stranger's simple word. How did she know she could or could not believe it? "What else it there?" she asked.

[silverday]

"There are many other things, like milk thistle. It'll give you some energy." She pointed to a slim and pointed ended green flower that was located close to some rocks. "There are Tea leaves." Shadow nodded to a large dark green bush that was in the line of trees. "Tea leaves help you digest things easier, it can also help calm you and it tastes good as well." The creamello mare nodded with satisfaction.

Then for a brief moment, she looked around closer again. "I'm sure if we go into the forest, I'll find some more herbs."