[ PRP ] The Hunting of a Lady's Heart [ Waltx x Starburst ]

[Blinded By Silence]

[imgleft]https://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/imag ... morphy.gif[/imgleft]"At least you had your sister. She must have been a great comfort when you heard." Starburst shook her head, she couldn't imagine losing so many to a single flood. Floods were not commonplace in the swamp, though there weren't uncommon either. She knew that kin died in them, but she never had the experience of having somekin that she knew personally die. She couldn't imagine any of her siblings or her parents dying, and especially not Mug and Sorrel for they were so strong, nor her clutch because they would be in Mug and Sorrel's care.

She wasn't kept long on these morbid thoughts though for her world seemed to light up with this buck's smile. It was so easy to get caught up in his warmth, she rather felt as if the sun had settled upon her back in a delicately woven shall, imparting some impossible daylight upon her being. It was so very easy to get lost when he smiled, his eyes seemed to shine brighter, like the parting hug of sunlight that the sun gave to the swamp has it dipped below the horizon, promising to come again, without fail, the next day.

What did she want? Not many things, if Starburst really thought about it. She had never been wanting, she simply lived and was happy and the MotherFather never left her wanting. She simply was and it was good enough for her. But as she continued to think, the tendril of a thought crept gentle from her mind to her heart and she maybe felt that if she had to choose one thing at the moment, it would be for this buck to continue to smile, but that was a rather unthought thought that did not quite register as she spoke in gentle answer. "I want to run and to chase the sun and live, breath, laugh and smile. I may be an acha's daughter but I don't crave beauty necessarily, nor the pleasures that acha seek. No, I am a kiokote's daughter as well, and I the one thing I would miss, though I don't actively want, is the wind to always be blowing through my mane."

[Blinded By Silence]

[imgleft]http://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/image ... linded.gif[/imgleft]"And to think that you have never set hoof in the plains," Waltz smiled and laughed again.

The buck's eyes seemed to sparkle as he eyed the beautiful doe. He let his mind wander to thoughts of her with the sun on her back and the wind running its delightful fingers through her mane. He imagined her laughing, peeking back at him over her shoulder as they raced.

At that moment, Dancing with Shadows knew exactly what he wanted.

Waltz smile turned into a grin, his eyes flashing playfully with just a slight hint of mischief mixed in with the excitement. He stepped forward, over the carcass, and lowered his muzzle so close to her ear that the fur tickled his nose.

"Follow me," He whispered before pulling back and flashing her a grin.

Suddenly, the buck turned and ran for the trees, leaving only the sound of his laugh for her to follow. 

[Blinded By Silence]

[imgleft]https://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/imag ... morphy.gif[/imgleft]The buck laughed and Starburst was helpless but to laugh with him. It broke free from her and chased around them both. It was beyond her not to laugh when he laughed, smile when he smiled. She did it without thinking and it filled her with joy.

Something seemed to spark in the buck's eyes, something mischievous and it made Starburst smile. The buck seemed so warm, but there had always been something serious, something that was so clear when he spoke of his sister. And now, it was brushed away by something so dearly fun and it called to Starburst. She was a creature who could never resist fun.

She was perfectly still when the buck stepped over the bird carcass and leaned forward. Just the barest brush of his nose against her ear. She could barely contain the shiver that threatened to shake through her.

Starburst had just barely registered the request when the buck tore away. Blinking rapidly, she laughed, loud and clear, with the purity of the sun.

And with that, she tore off after him, hooves pounding easily into the swamp ground.

[Blinded By Silence]

[imgleft]http://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/image ... linded.gif[/imgleft]The thunder of his hooves may have been reduced to squishy rumbles, but Waltz would never let the terrain beat him. Not when it came to running. He flew, darting between trees, leaping over fallen trunks, sliding on quick turns through the mulch. Laughing the entire time like a colt out on his first run, the buck managed to always keep just out of sight. A flash of tail here. A flash of legs there. And suddenly it was quiet. The buck had seemed to disappear with a chuckle fading.

"Catch me if you can," His voice whispered.

[Blinded By Silence]

[imgleft]https://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/imag ... morphy.gif[/imgleft]Starburst had to admit that the buck was a fast runner. He also had a head start. How very sporting of him. But it made Starburst laugh and her laugh chased the buck as much as she herself did on her hooves. she laughed as she had never laughed before, feeling her hooves dig with sure footing into the swamp. He might have gotten ahead of her and he may be a good runner, but she had been running in the swamp her whole life, this was where she was born and this is where she knew how to run. And so, as she wove between the trees and chased that laughter she knew she would catch him. She knew this like she knew the swamp, knew the sky and the sun.

"I can!" She called out to him and pushed onwards.

[Blinded By Silence]

[imgleft]http://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/image ... linded.gif[/imgleft]The buck may not have the experience, but he did have wit and very good eyesight. He'd found a small path that circled back. And with a grin, he'd taken it. Moments later when he heard Starburst galloping his way, he took off again, kicking off of a fallen tree and flying over her head, landing deftly in front of her. Not missing a beat, his feet continued to fly as he laughed, grinning back at her.

"I apologize, my lady, but that is impossible," He said, matter of factly with a smirk before darting off in front once more.

A few more turns and leaps and Waltz exploded out of the foliage into a wide clearing. It was one of his favorites that he had found since coming down here. The grass was long, the ground wasn't nearly as wet and nasty as it was everywhere else. And above them, the sun blazed as it began its trek home to the horizon, unfiltered by the green tree leaves.

His gait slowed here as he waited, still chuckling, for the doe to come after him. His heart pounded, his breath rushed in and out. He hadn't had this much fun since he was little!

[Blinded By Silence]

[imgleft]https://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/imag ... morphy.gif[/imgleft]When all of a sudden, Dances with Shadows was in front of her, Starburst laughed, but it also made her determined. Oh, it was infuriating to be gotten the better of, but also so fun. With a new burst of speed, Starburst stopped following him. She knew where he was going now. If he thought that a kiokote did not know that clearing where the grass was tall and ground harder, then he must not know too many kiokote around these areas. She had always traveled so far, searching for the next place to bask in the sun.

Taking several twists and turns that seemed nonsensical, Starburst ran smoothly through the trees, using the swamp to her advantage. And soon she had reached the edge of the clearing. She stood quietly at the edge, behind a tree and other foliage, carefully hiding her white pelt from view. She could barely contain her laugh as he burst through from the other side, stopping in the clearing. And she waited for a few moments with a smile on her face, watching him catch his breath as hers was already even before stepping into the sun.

"I rather think I can, good sir," she said in even tone. She smiled with the strength of the sun behind her eyes at him. How she loved to run.

[Blinded By Silence]

[imgleft]http://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/image ... linded.gif[/imgleft]Waltz started upon seeing the lady appear, but his ears quickly relaxed as he gazed upon her. The glow from the sinking sun burned beautifully behind her, making her almost seem otherworldly. It was incredible. She was incredible. He gave a chuckle as he approached her. He gave her neck a small nudge with his muzzle before lifting his head and looking into her burning-sun-eyes.

"So I see, my most wonderful lady," He spoke softly with a smile.

[Blinded By Silence]

[imgleft]https://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/imag ... morphy.gif[/imgleft]The sun behind her filtered onto his pelt in bright rays that reflected off all the different colors on his pelt. It was as if he were glowing from the center of his very being. It was mesmerizing. She let out an unbidden sigh when he nudged her neck and when their eyes met, it was like staring into the most beautiful sunset. She would be happy to stand here with him till the sun went down, the moon went up and down, and the sun came up again. He was the most captivating, brilliant kin she had ever met and it felt as if her heart were buoyed up on the warmest breeze and filled with the brightest light. As the shadows stretched longer, she wanted to dance with him, to dance as the shadows extended their limbs, to fulfill his name and dance with shadows.

[Blinded By Silence]

[imgleft]http://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/image ... linded.gif[/imgleft]Gently, Waltz buried his shadow-dipped muzzle into her mane, surrounding himself with her scent. Eyes closed, he nuzzled her, the feel of her fur so exhilarating, he could feel the tip of every hair on his body. He knew it then. There was no greater feeling then this right here, right now.

"Stay with me," He breathed.

[Blinded By Silence]

[imgleft]https://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/imag ... morphy.gif[/imgleft]Starburst let out another sigh and closed her eyes, pressing her muzzle into his neck, returning the gesture. Her ears flicked at his request and ever so gently, she said "Yes."

Suddenly, the skies opened up with the rain that the air had been promising for so long. Though it was raining, the sun still shown behind them, lighting the swamp up in the deepest shadows and brightest rays. Laughing and opening up her eyes, she led him backwards into the cover of the trees. The water fell heavily upon the trees and even beneath the canopy of leaves, the rain still managed to break through and water streamed down her neck, soaking into her mane and fur. "I'll stay with you. How long do you want me to stay?"

[Blinded By Silence]

[imgleft]http://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/image ... linded.gif[/imgleft]The cool rain slid over his back, making him shiver gently as the droplets ran their fingers over his skin. He gave a loving sigh in return, gently running his nose just under her ear.

"Forever, my dear. Be my lady forever," He whispered softly.

[Blinded By Silence]

[imgleft]https://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/imag ... morphy.gif[/imgleft]The word forever made her freeze. Forever? What was forever? Starburst simply couldn't fathom being with a single kin for all eternity, even one as lovely, as perfect and as wonderful her Sir Shadows. She pulled back, her eyes filled with so much regret and just as much adoration, she touched him, nose to nose.

"Forever is... Such a long time... I-I... I don't know if I can even fathom it. I want to stay, I do, but, forever isn't something that I know how to do, not right now."

She pulled back further, yet stayed so close. "I'm so, so sorry, I don't, I can't right now, but if you could wait for me, just, maybe one day I'll know what forever is."

[Blinded By Silence]

[imgleft]http://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/image ... linded.gif[/imgleft]Waltz stared deeply into his lady's eyes, searching frantically, hoping, praying even, to find something other than regret and rejection. Tears stung his eyes, mixing with the rain, as she stammered out an apology. But there... As she asked him to wait, the hope and longing returned to her eyes. and it was at that moment that he knew that he would.

"...If I must, then wait I shall," Waltz whispered after a few very long moments, "No matter how long it takes for you to find the meaning, forever shall be waiting for you with me."

[Blinded By Silence]

[imgleft]https://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/imag ... morphy.gif[/imgleft]The reassurance that her beautiful buck would wait for her lifted something in Starburst’s heart. Sighing, she felt her limbs regain the sense of safety that she had felt before being confronted with eternity. Closing her eyes, she let the rain fall across of her face, feeling like she was being reborn with the water. Sharing the same breath, sharing the same space, and one day, they might share the same heart.

“Thank you…” She opened her eyes to look at the buck before her. “Forever is never far away.”