[SRP] True Friends and the Start of Something New (List 1st)

[Shesha Sama]

Later:

 

[Shesha Sama]

Hinapouri Hinengaro strode powerfully through the lands, her true friend at her side. Her great strides fueled by her large well-muscles frame, seasoned to regular hard exertion, moved her across the land with great speed. And the stallion at her side kept up with ease.

Their meeting had been guided by a special star, one that graced the lands from time to time and blessed those who thought to ask with their heart's truest desire. She had wanted a friend.
She was large, she was rather reserved (but slowly warming with his presence), she was ... once upon a time, she had been an awkwardly huge filly who had found no place to fit in. Nonetheless, she grew to respect honor and loyalty above all else.. perhaps, because no one was loyal to her.
And now, she had a stallion of similar mind and stature who reveled in their friendship.

These were good times.

She smiled to herself, greatly enjoying the physical exertion of their morning walk. They had started the ritual as a way to burn off steam, for they both craved movement first thing after being fairly still through the night, and now she simply enjoyed not being alone.
They had talked, at their first meeting, and been stunned by the similarity of their mindset. He was noble, honorable, and spoke true. She was kind, valued truth and loyalty above all else.
They seemed well suited for each other, and what grew from that was a true bond of kinship.
Now, they passed their days together, enjoying a quiet time spent with friends.
He was a good, loyal companion, and a truer friend she could never imagine.
 

[Shesha Sama]

Hudson strode alongside the mare who mare who matched him body and soul, enjoying their daily morning exercise. He could move freely around her, and know that she would feel neither left behind nor that he was moving away from her. She could keep up, and indeed at times she actually pushed him to new limits of physical endurance.
He greatly admired her, and had found a true friend in her.

He had been alone for much of his life, frequent encounters with others in need of aid or some task done (moving some large fallen tree from their meadow or walking path, general defense and protection, something physical that they could not do themselves more often than not) punctuated by long streaks of solitude. It wasn't that he wasn't welcome (after all, a strong stallion would always find somewhere he would prove useful) but he had never found... that place he felt he fit in, that he belonged.
Being of use and belonging didn't feel the same, so he wandered and searched for what he didn't yet know was possible.
Until, guided by a star, he found Hina.

And the rest, as they say... was history.

He glanced over at her, moving so confidently across the land, and his lips twitched upwards in a slight smile matched by warmth in his eyes.
"Where to, Hina?"
 

[Shesha Sama]

They took turns, leading and following, and it seemed that today was her turn to act as guide for their roaming ways.
They could just as easily move freely, without thought as to where they were headed, but found that after being guided by a start they enjoyed listening to those little pulls and tugs of inner destination.
She closed her eyes, guided across the land for a moment by his movements, keeping herself going at a set distance from him and feeling his warmth and listening to his movements, trusting that he would dodge with her should need arise. They did this frequently, as an exercise in subtly of movement (they were both rather large, so nothing about them was very subtle otherwise) and trust.
Listening to her heart, and her mind, she felt the world around her. And picked a direction that felt like possibility.

Any one would have been good, and held potential, but there was one that seemed... right.
And that was the point, wasn't it? Do what is right, and you will find good things ahead. And, sometimes, discover new things about yourself in the process.

"Left." She opened her eyes, and moved around a large tree to change their course.
Movement solid and true, she gazed around them with bright olive eyes, wondering what adventures lay this way. She felt as though she could take on any challenge, climb any mountain, scale any obstacle. With him at her side.
She was, of course, and always had been confident in her physical abilities. But it seemed somehow less lonely, more whole, to travel with another. Though she could do almost any physical task alone, having trusted companionship just made life feel so much more rich.
She was lucky, to be by his side.
 

[Shesha Sama]

Hudson nodded, adjusting his course to maintain his position at her side. It was interesting to see where they might go, if only the question was asked.
Otherwise, they typically enjoyed their day regardless of direction or any course of action. But the days when Hina turned inwards, listening to her feelings (even if they were at times seemingly random) and moving in a direction that felt good, positive, or had some other positive attribute... yes, those had proven to be some of his favorite days.
So he asked, and she answered, and they went together.
Ready to face whatever lay ahead. Ready to enjoy the sights that came their way. Ready to live, together, just a bit longer.
He had never had this, before.
He could get things done, feel useful, feel as if he was helping others, easily. But he had never really thought of what he wanted, what he wished to do or where he wished to go.
Until he had someone to ask him, too... where to?

He watched the scenery unfold, catching the little changes in brush and bush that spoke of some change in local soils or prevailing weather conditions. If there was one skill he had developed in those long stretches alone, other than silent retrospection, it was recognizing when he was coming somewhere new by observing changes in plantlife.

They seemed to be approaching a place where things were a little... smaller. New growth, perhaps, or simply conditions that did not allow things to grow to their full potential.
He quirked one brow curiously.
Even the trails between brush seemed smaller, as though little creatures (smaller than he and Hina, anyway) moved about.
 

[Shesha Sama]

Hina peered curiously at what had caught Hudson's eye, and noted the small trail leading through small shrubs.
She wondered if it was the similarity of size that had attracted small creatures here, a natural comfort formed by a lack of disparity among sizes, or if it was simple coincidence. But she knew first-hand how comforting being around objects or beings of similar stature could be.
Though she no longer felt awkward around smaller beings, as she once had, she had found a great amount of comfort in the large stallion's presence. They were alike, and it felt good to not be aware of silent judgement, surprise, or subtle curiosity thinly veiled by 'but you're a mare' threads of conversation about her stature. He simply was here, with her, and they accepted each other without reserve and got along splendidly.
She supposed it might be the same for someone small.

A glimmer of polished green and flash of burning orange ember caught her eye, and she looked sharply towards a rounded dome of thick shrub. It was not fire, or she would have smelt it. The glimmer was gone now, a perfect angle and sun shining just so, but she saw a beige golden tone between two leaves.
She turned slightly, and approached, her movements slowing.

She paused a few steps away, though she felt drawn closer.

Small one?