[SRP] Impish Delight [Kenna & Amy x Shilah]

[Huroggmeten]

Gentle moonlight flickered down through the leafy canopy, wisps of peaceful glow dancing upon the ground. The mare moved stately through a shimmering beam, her movements graceful as a dancer's, then entered shadow.
Immediately, she sprung forwards with a great gathering of her hind legs, and let out an echoing peal of laughter. Come find me. She moved quickly, her nimble cloven hooves landing lightly on the ground beneath them as she flicked her way through the deep forest, her heart as light and happy as her dancing hooves.

She knew that her familiar was out there somewhere, keeping an eye on her as he always had. Amy was such a dear little soul, always watching out for her.
An impish grin flickered over her features- even when she made it a little extra difficult. But, Amy never really lost his temper- perhaps it was because they had been together so long?
She remembered when, as a foal, her parents would let her roam but only if her familiar came with. It was as if they thought that nothing bad could ever happen to her, if only someone kept watch.
But, nothing bad had happened, so perhaps her parents were right, after all?

No matter how clever her games, no matter how delightfully just a little bit naughty she was- moving out of sight on purpose, hiding when they sought her for some important piece of information like where they'd rest that night or where the best food was as she hadn't eaten since morning, even in unpractical situations- nothing bad ever happened.

And, one day, when hiding from Amy (it was harder to do, since she'd grown bigger, but still possible) and keeping just out of sight, she'd met... him.

A beautiful white stallion so striking with his huuuge glorious... rack... with dashing markings and a bright, cheery personality that was just ever so fun.
She grinned.

And, now she had a new partner in this game called life.

For, at the moment, her aim wasn't to keep out of Amy's sight. Oh, no. It was to keep out of his, juuust long enough so that he'd miss her- and then pounce! Surprise, a cheery grin and a smile and then woosh she'd be away again.

It was so very fun, making others work to find her.

Even when she really did want to be found.




Amy sighed, staring down at the flitting Cerynei doe moving gracefully through light and then bouncing about through shadow. He knew exactly what she was doing, using herself as bait in this game of 'catch me, find me'. He'd played it with her often enough in her youth.
But now she'd found other partners, one big stallion in particular from whom she could barely be parted nowadays. The whole thing rather reminded the bobcat of when Kenna's own parents had first gotten together.
A union full of such laughter and joy, young souls brought together by mutual admiration and charm, an initial spark that grew to love.

And then.

Children.

They tended to happen, what with sparks and all. Amy hopped a little farther along the trail of the high pass, keeping an eye on the little grove beneath. Any movement in the trees, any new players entering the area, and he'd see.
With ample time to warn the little mare playing down below.
He was always a faithful watcher, a protector.
He'd never failed.

He sighed, remembering his previous line of thought. Children, or rather a particular spotted doe child and her brother, had been brought into the couple's lives, and they had been woefully unprepared for the feat of raising such an impish little filly.
But, he'd been there.
And he'd felt the pull of the little filly like the draw of a great sun, being absorbed by her until nothing remained of his old life- he even had a new name.

Rolling his eyes, he sighed. It had given her such pleasure, to call him Amy. He wasn't sure why- perhaps she merely liked the sound- but he'd shed his old identity (or, his old name, at least) to make room for who he was to be.
And she'd brought love back into his life.

And a little bit of devilish charm.

 

[Huroggmeten]

Shilah moved through the night with a spring in his step, enjoying the play of moonlight on the forest and especially enjoying the little glimpses of a particular mare allowed to him.
He grinned; wasn't life grand? Good food, great company on a beautiful night. Ahh, yes. This was most wondrous indeed. He paused, peeking out from behind a tree to better admire her graceful little steps through a beam of moonlight.
He grinned, watching until her tail disappeared from the light. He knew that he'd start running as soon as she hit shadow, so as to better distance herself and throw him off her trail.
She really was quite the fun mare, always thinking of some game or way to make him... well. Follow her.

And he did so more than willingly.

She'd come into his life like a burst of energy, so full of impish charm, her bright eyes with their dual-toned luminous quality a little window into her unique mind. She'd dazzled him, from the first glimpse, and when she'd started talking he'd only been more entrance.
And now they met regularly, hardly even parting these days.

He moved forward, trying to guess her path. She tended to dart around a bit, but the ultimate goal was for them to reunite, so perhaps she'd begun circling, so as not to move too far...?
It was a cute little grove, nestled between some high passes that allowed a good vantage point.
He glanced up, wondering, but saw a slight flicker of a small white and blue form passing in the moonlight- but that post was already occupied.

He grinned, again. He'd gotten not one, but two new companions; Kenna, and the little bobcat she called Amy.
He was good for her, he thought; always watching, making sure she didn't take her little games too far.
It was good, to have someone caring around. Watching. Guarding against danger. Especially when she had such a knack for mild trouble.

He grinned, circling a bit himself and dashing through a beam of moonlight to approach a particularly shadowed area between two large trees.
It wasn't easy for luminous white and colorful beings such as they to hide, even at night; but, there were... ways... and he was learning hers.

"Kennnaaa" he called, his pleasant and warm voice carrying gently through the night as he addressed the deep shadows, "I fooOOound you~"

He might be wrong.
But, .... he didn't think so.

After all... she did want to be found.

 

[Huroggmeten]

Kenna grinned from her place in the shadow.
Good stallion.

She'd circled around, dodging from dark place to dark place, keeping out of the light. Making sure she'd come around him, and not be seen again (after all, she'd already allowed him a glimpse!) until it had either been too long or he moved the wrong way. But, he'd circled about with a graceful little step, and now faced her as he approached.

She giggled.

Her name sounded so pretty, coming from his lips.

Bursting from the shadows, she grinned and charged, her head lowered in mock-play even as her legs switched direction so she'd move around him, just skirting the tips of his unique wings. She let her shoulder brush against his as she passed, then let her tail hit the tip of his long antennae-like wing as she moved around him and raced past.
"Good job, you're learning!"
She called as she passed, laughter mingling with her rapid breath as she prepared for speedy movements. Stopping to prance slowly for a beat or two, she raced back into the shadows that were now behind him, carefully dodging around tree and brush as she made her way a little further into the glen.

If he'd started to predict her movements, she'd have to... she flung her weight left and dodged about the side of a large oak, moving quickly back to the right and racing straight for a breath before turning at an angle and taking off again, enough to put a little distance (but not too much) between them.

She wasn't tired yet. So the game wasn't done yet.

But, oh! She did so enjoy playing.



She thought of her parents, just then, and smiled softly to herself. They were good souls, kind and gentle and caring. When she grew older, she realized that perhaps they hadn't quite been ready to have children when they did, but they'd done a good job of it. As had Amy, with his watchful caring presence.
She was ever-grateful to them, and made sure they knew it in her own way. (Sometimes, those she loved the most were the ones she enjoyed teasing).


She paused, peeking behind her to make sure he was still behind her.
She hadn't meant to lose him, only... get a little out of reach.

Like a nice juicy.. well, no. She was sure he wasn't a carnivore.
It wouldn't do to think of herself as some hunk of flesh, even if she was relating herself to some vegetable as bait.

She was merely playing.
Afterwards, when their bodies were tired and their muscles fully worked through motion, they'd rest, perhaps by a trickling stream to offer some melodic backdrop, and talk... and share.
And she'd learn a little more about the stallion who was so very fun to play with.

But, for now.
She grinned, dancing to the left on light hooves.

Come find me.

 

[Huroggmeten]

Amy rolled his eyes, watching the two adult Soquili play and fling remarks and teasing comments. It was clearly their way of flirting.

He eyed the corners of the grove, making sure no others would join in. Well, perhaps it would be good if someone else would intrude, but only another kind soul and... he sighed, glancing back at the two deer-like horses who seemed to make such a charming match.
Well... let them have their fun.

He sighed, stretching his muscles and shaking out the thought.
He'd napped during the day, of course, and he was most active at twilight, but the time when the moon was highest (and this game was most fun) also happened to be about the time he started to want something to eat.
He rummaged in a little pouch, silently blessing the ingenuity of the two-leggeds, and carefully selected a bit of dried meat in his mouth.
Munching thoughtfully, he returned his gaze down below, eyes quickly scanning to trace the path of hid bonded and her... beau?
He stopped chewing, and blinked, then continued more slowly.

Well.
History did have a way of repeating itself.

He sighed, then glanced at the entrance to the glade again and spared one glance behind him.
They grew up so fast.

He'd adopted the habit of carrying a little cloth pouch that could be flung across his back when needed when she was but a filly. It made it easier, chasing after someone with so much energy, and he could even pack a little something for her- an apple to rejuvenate her, a carrot to entice her back home. Hunt once for himself, while her parents watched over her, eat his fill and dry the remains as he'd seen the two-leggeds do (so handy, they were) and then he could store enough for a few days' travel.
It really was the most ingenious thing.

He gazed down, looking for the little filly who'd captured his heart and grown into a mare who held it still.
She was responsible for her own meals, now, mostly, but he still carried around an apple... just in case.

He smiled.

Would this one feed her, too? Take care of her?
Watch her grow even more?

Or did he just want to play?

 

[Huroggmeten]

Shilah sucked in his breath as she brushed past him, grinning ear to ear at her praise.
Yes, he was learning; when you watched and played with her as many times as he had since they'd met, you had to pick up a trick or two.
He could have ended their game now- a leg stuck out just in time, a little swivel of his body to block her path quicker then even she nimble as she was could move around- but where would be the fun in that?
Besides, he didn't want to risk hurting her. He never wanted to hurt her, ever. Even if the smallest, most innocent ways.
He never wanted to see that cute little grin fade from her beautiful face.

He was a rather optimistic sort, himself.
He'd been told so, when others were down and he was cheery as ever. It wasn't that he lacked empathy, he simply... chose to see things brighter than they were. Not unrealistically so, just shedding a better light on things. Even when others failed to see the goodness that could shine through.

And this mare... she was goodness. Impish, slightly testing goodness, sure, but she had a good heart from what he had seen.
She just.. liked to keep things interesting.

He grinned, making his way after her.
Dodge, dodge, swivel- oop, tree- dodge.
I'm coming. I'm here.
And oh, she knew it.