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Zander had been patrolling the swamp where he lived as usual when one day he'd bumped into a stallion, he'd thought the strange wolfish Soquili was dead at first, impaled as he was but the head turned, fear and confusion in the male's eyes as he was sinking into a deeper part of the murky water. Zander had managed to help the strange stallion out, with some difficulty, it seemed like the stranger didn't realise he was helping at first. Once the stallion was out he'd had to help him to the edges of the swamp, fortunately it was easy to find which path the other had come this way on and Zander had led him back to the same place he'd entered, all the while the impaled stallion had been mentioning someone called Umbra. Zander watched as the other stallion made his way off back in the other direction and away from the swamp. Satisfied his job was done, he carried on patrolling, for days, mundane as usual until a dark mare with glowing eyes had shown up, somehow she'd been able to navigate the paths of the swamp quietly enough to sneak up on him (quite a feat honestly since he knew the sounds of the swamp, as well as he knew his permanently attached snake friend.) He'd about jumped right out of his skin and almost stumbled into a small puddle of oozing, smelly swamp mud, instead propelling himself forwards again until he was nose to nose with the mare. She'd had him cornered at that time and he'd trembled, he hadn't expected her to have been between him and the safe path.

Over time, he'd learned she was the friend/owner/master/ex lover of the impaled stallion, who's name was Wolfwood, fitting, and her own name, Umbrasyll, he was intrigued, firstly with her skill in the swamp, and then with her as a friend and eventually more. He felt braver around her for some reason, he never had liked being alone but most soquili took one look at him, the snake coming from his eye, and fled the other way, Umbrasyll however, did the opposite, she had kept coming and visiting him until at some point, she just never left. She (and Wolfwood) made his large cave home in the swamp, feel not as big and empty. His mother had disapproved but he'd realised by then he'd fallen in love with this dark mare and his mother saw that she made him happy and left it alone... mostly.

He was still getting used to her though and being around her all the time, he didn't jump anymore however, when she brushed against him, he liked when she brushed under his chin with her head. He sighed and closed his eyes for a moment as the butterflies fluttered around his face. "I was going to patrol the swamp soon, since it will be starting to get dark, check the paths, see if there are any new ones, unless you had another idea Umbrasyll love" he was awkward with this kind of love, it was still new to him.

(522 words)

Zander's snake 'friend' yawned as he stared at Umbrasyll, unblinking, because of course, snakes didn't blink. The snake actually had liked Umbrasyll from the beginning, being more outspoken than the stallion he was attached to, he liked the 'lively debates' as he called them, with the dark mare, sometimes striking at her butterflies just for the laughs. It had been the snake that had told Zander's mother to back off on Umbra, that Zander loved the mare, to which Zander had admitted. he stuck a tongue out at her before curling up on top of Zander's head, his tail permanently attached to the stallion, luckily he never resented it, he was never alone and the snake liked company. Zander blinked a few times as the snake moved around then settled for the night.

He turned to the mare who held his heart "I don't see why not my love, i...i..mean, we both know the paths by n..n..now" he stuttered as she pressed closer in, his eyes crossing to look at the butterflies that landed on his nose, he tried not to but .. he sneezed, sending them fluttering back into the air. "S..sorry" he muttered to them. He didn't know of Umbra's exploits, or rather more accurately, he didn't want to know, it was just one thing about her that while he didn't like it, asking her not to, would be like asking her not to breathe, or not to be with him. It was just part of who she was and he wouldn't change her, ever. He sighed and leaned back, though gently. "Will Wolfwood be joining us?" he asked, sometimes the impaled stallion would, though he never seemed to learn the paths like Umbra had, often stumbling into trouble, to the point Zander had been forced to put stakes along some of the permanent paths, linking them with vines to provide a safe route around, as long as you didn't step over the vines, you were on the right paths.

(331 words)

He didn't mind the butterflies, they were cute, and strange, that they liked the dark just as much as the light, but he liked them. He was relieved when Umbra said Wolfwood wasn't going to be joining them, while he liked the other stallion, it was exhausting sometimes, especially when he and Umbra walked the trails he hadn't yet managed to stake posts and ropes onto to keep him on the paths.

"I always enjoy my time with you Umbra" he said, giving her a gentle boop with his muzzle, "the stars always were my favourite part of walking the swamp, until you came along that is" he smiled, looking upwards. "Don't worry about snake, he only listens when he wants to, he's good at ignoring things.. especially me"

The snake on his part, just licked a tongue out, tasting the air like any normal snake, though he was far from a normal snake. He didn't need to eat for a start, or sleep, but he could go into a dormant state, almost like hibernating, almost. "Don't fret oh shadowy one, pretend i'm not even here, like i even want to be aware of what you two get up to without the stick head around..." he chuckled. He liked this mare.

(211 words)

"Ah but the stars Umbra... there's not anything quite like them" he said, staring up, "Their positions in the sky, the shapes of the constellations, it's fascinating" Though he'd never looked into astrology much, he liked looking up "sometimes there's shooting stars, some so bright it's like daylight", his admiration for the burning balls of gas, millions of miles away, was noticable in his tone.

He sighed and turned to the mare "though they're nothing compared to your eyes my dear" he said, as she spoke. "It's only my lantern" he said, he'd never been one to realise a compliment, at times he took things very literally. He had to clamp his jaws shut as she wagged her tail, the urge to laugh at how adorable it was, was strong. He grabbed his lantern, making sure it's glow was strong and motioned for Umbra to precede him "After you love" he said, dipping his head, watching as she walked in front of him, smile on his face.

(167 words)

Zander paused "Me either Umbra love, i always thought i'd spend my life alone, well... with visits from family, but .. patrolling these swamps by myself, now... well i couldn't imagine being here without you" he caught up to her and walked by her side. "I never realised how lonely it was here, until you came into my life"

Her question however, slightly blindsided him, they'd never really talked about this before, though he knew she'd had foals with Wolfwood, he didn't judge her for it, it was simply a part of her life before they'd met. Though, he had to admit, at first, it had been a bit weird having Wolfwood around, but he soon realised the impaled stallion was no barrier to his and Umbra's love. "i... uh ..Umbra, i'd love to have foals with you" He'd have to rethink his life in the swamp, at least while the foals were young and prone to running off but having his own foals ... "Are you sure though? they might be.... like me" ... he meant different, while his family had never judged him for his snake or his looks, others did. "What if they're unhappy because they are like me?"

The snake at this point perked his head "Oh do shut up, they should be proud to have a dad like you, there's absolutely nothing wrong with you, or us, you big dummy ... YEESH... i love you buddy but i wish you wouldn't be so down on yourself, i wish you'd see yourself how i see you, how Umbrasyll there sees you, hell... how WOLFWOOD sees you" the snake headbutted Zander between the eyes "Wake up, anyone who's ever ACTUALLY gotten to know you, loves you"

(285 words)

Zander was taken aback by the snake's words, and the headbutting, he could be snarky at times yes but he'd never spoken to Zander that way before, he dipped his head, taking the snake with him "That's what mother says but... before i knew you Umbra, or Wolfwood, i never really had that kind of reaction from anyone outside my family" he raised his head a little again, enough so that his and Umbra's foreheads touched, as well as noses. "I can only try and do my best, even if you being with me feels like a dream... well i'll just keep dreaming" he smiled and moved forwards, leaning his neck over Umbra's shoulders and tucking his chin in a horsey 'hug'. "I'll try and believe it" he whispered "For them, not just for me" he added, meaning his and Umbra's children, whenever they may come along.

(147 words)




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