Myakka lifted her head to the breeze, her eyes relaxedly closing with the motion. The breeze swooped up from the valley below to toy with her braids. Almost as if it was a little game to see how high it could lift them before she shook her head. Her lips twitched as her mind let it have its little game before shaking the tickling strands away from her eyes. The wind brought with it warm scents from the valley floor. Dry earth and pine needles warmed in a lazily turning sun that made the soil warm to the touch.
Her head came down in the same relaxed motion as her eyes opened to take in what her nose could not. She wanted to enjoy her little break while trekking up a mountain she had come across. She had been walking uphill for about 3 hours now and had a nice view above the trees in the valley below. After the breeze left her ears, the bird sounds came in. They were joyful today as they twitted away at their tales. She couldn't understand them but she wouldn't be surprised if they spoke nothing more than of a snack and a day full of chasing sunbeams through swishing trees. The yearning for wings to join them floated through and away from her mind as a butterfly caught her attention.
She turned away from the ledge with the view and watched as it fluttered past her. Myakka had no other plans for the hike, quickly deciding that shadowing a butterfly for the day was a good way to explore a new area. She paused with the flutter to smell a few flowers. There were some especially rich lush grass clumps by a few of the places her guide stopped by. She enjoyed the slow pace and the warmth of the sun against her hide. Myakka's path lead through fields sprinkled with flowers, some smatterings of trees, and finally, to Myakka's surprise, a small lake filled her vision once the trees opened up. The rising hill behind it was filled with daffodils. Their numbers flowing over the crest to continue beyond.
Myakka thanked and parted ways with her little forest guide. It had wandered off down the other side of the crest, but Myakka was more inclined to linger by the water. The warmth of the sun against her hide had started to pearl against her colors, making them dance slightly within the shimmer. She welcomed the sight of any amount of water on this sunny dry day. She slipped her hooves into the water and let the tingle of first steps in wash through her. Her knees were submerged before she stopped to enjoy the tingle of cool water on warm flesh. With the constant amount of cloudless skies, the water was almost tepid, but still a welcome reprieve.
Myakka walked around slowly, feeling the simple joy of water lapping against the creases of her elbows. Even the sound of the water seemed quiet and easy as it flowed passed her in her figure eight. Letting her body take full control of the figure-eight, Myakka finally took the time to look at her surroundings. The small lake was more of a pond. It rested at the foot of another crest to the hill. It was quaint and the daffodils seemed to welcome the sight of the water as much as she did. Her figure-eight dropped as she headed closer to the far edge to get a better view of the flowers. They were still yards away, but she could see they had their variations.
She was thrilled when she was able to inspect them closer. Oh, she'll certainly have to remember this location. Even more thankful she had found this place in bloom. Not only were there sunny yellows, and pale yellows, yellows that seemed to not even be there at all. There seemed to be a mixture of frilled petals in with the cups she had known before. It tickled her to see the flourish of frills. Myakka thought this would be the perfect time for a nap. Her limbs feeling the slight ache after her soak and climb. She picked a spot under a shady tree ringed with the blooms. Her bent legs feeling more relaxed already, the gentle aroma mingling around her lulling her to sleep.
Myakka woke to the sounds of bats feeding over the pond. Another plus for the clearing. She could still see their outline against the setting sun and smiled as she watched them. Thoughts of wings entered her mind again. Though this time, instead of lazy flaps in a warm airstream, these brought to mind precision, silence, and speed. She would always prefer the warm gentle airstream and the opportunity for grass and fruit over the need to catch her food. But she could still marvel at those who did.
While she continued to watch their acrobatics and listen to the singing of death, Myakka wondered what she would do about actually sleeping for the night. Really, it wasn't uncomfortable outside. The heat from the day still lingered, and probably would through the night. Myakka stood to walk over to munch her way through dining on some grass. It wasn't as good as fruit, but it beat being hungry. And she certainly wasn't interested in trying the bats' other delicacy. She honestly was thankful she lucked out on the quality of grass that tucked itself around the pond here and there. It had a small crunch, a gentle sweetness, and best of all, soft to the touch. None of that stiff crabgrass, or dried pine needles to get stuck in the grooves of her hooves. The chitters of passing bats faded and the stars started to twinkle.
This time when Myakka lifted her head, her eyes remained open. There were no clouds in the sky to turn pink, but by now they would have lost all signs of color besides what illuminated them from the stars. They twinkled brightly tonight, some brighter than others. She wondered if she would see any shooting stars before she fell back asleep. But even without that bonus, the stars from this climb were wonderful. The smell of the warmth during the day faded into the smell of night. The scent of flowers still swirled around her, but now it was joined by the scent of the cooled water. It would be no hard task to fall asleep tonight.
By now the sound of bats was drowned out by crickets beginning to wake. It was their time to enjoy and explore life. Myakka's eyelids drooped as she walked back to stand under a nearby tree. She drifted in and out of little scenarios of what their little adventures would hold for them. Would any of them find love? Find friendship? Have to fight to the death with swords over love? She couldn't discount any theories, who was she to judge how a cricket spent his time awake. By now a few of them had names and side quests outside of their duels. Her mind drifted through a scene of a cricket having a little cup of coffee at a little cricket cafe as the stars played the scene for her. A drowsy giggle escaped before the scene could switch to one brave cricket surfing the lake on a breezy night.
Myakka sighed slightly and let her head hang comfortably as she closed her eyes. She wished she had someone she could tell her cricket stories to. Today had been so amazing and relaxing, and yet at the end of the day, she missed having someone to tell about it to. Though some might not have even believed parts of it unless they had spent it with her. Her fun little forest guide. Who had led her down a serene walk through the different paths and the one that had finally led her to the small lake she now rested next to. A fleeting thought crossed her to ask a bat tomorrow night if it wanted to chat. Maybe that would work. Of course, then what does one talk to a bat about? Would a bat be able to relate to the feeling of water on elbow creases? Myakka hemmed and hawed over this for a few more minutes. The thought even brought her out of her sleepiness for a moment.
She started to wonder if the lake might have fish inhabitants. Surely a fish would understand the simple joys of lapping water. Or maybe possibly a bird... But certainly not a bat. Myakka sighed slightly again at the small pang of loneliness before she drifted into dreams with a smile on her muzzle. Crossing the small ridge covered in daffodils and crossing into whatever world that brought her to. Either to one like today, filled with nothing but small pleasures of leisure and wandering. Or one filled with fast-paced adventure and landslides and fast currents before a waterfall off a steep ledge and a drop to a misty pool that may or may not open up into its own world.
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