Spring Break Story Stub 2
So this one was tossing in my head. Inspired by a drive I took today.
Tuluk soared. An ocean of verdant forest sailed underneath him, the varied shades of the trees seeming to roll by like waves as he sped towards the coast. His teryl Dactylos beat its powerful wings, each longer than a man standing tall, with ferocious grace; it flew as if trying to push the earth away out of disdain for all creatures not graced with flight.
Making a series of clicks with his tongue Tuluk urged Dactylos faster, and the great beast responded with a burst of speed that pushed Tuluk deep into the leather saddle. Rider and teryl flew over an endless blur of green reveling in the brilliance of the sunlight and the freedom of flight. They passed from the sea of forest over a thin stretch of cream-colored sand, and were suddenly surrounded by a vast expanse of sapphire; the sky seemed to rest on the sea like a robin's egg on a nest deep blue twigs.
As Tuluk flew over the off-white middle ground between water and earth, he could not help but see think of the beach as a neutral territory in the war between ocean and forest. The land was always trying to take more of itself from the water and the water was was always trying to recover the ground that had been raised from the depths.
Tuluk pulled the lower reins, and Dactylos dove towards the ocean's surface. The teryl's powerful wings kissed the tops of the waves, and sent up a bursts of spray around the pair. Dactylos huffed his dislike at being so close to the water, and Tuluk pulled at the upper reins.
Basking in the freedom of the air Tuluk could feel his cares and worries slip away, as if they were too heavy and slow to keep up with the Teryl's speed. Tuluk felt the wind against his face and the sun on his shoulders, and tried to lose the disquiet he had been feeling in recent weeks. He closed his eyes and let his other senses tell the story of the world around him. His skin told him of the wind created by Dactylos' speed. His ears told him the story of the sea and the sky, the crash of the waves and the call of the birds almost overpowered by the whoosh of air past teryl and rider. His nose told him of fresh, clean air with the barest trace of sea salt.
Opening his eyes Tuluk saw the small island he had discovered with Dactylos weeks before and claimed as a place of retreat, away from the troubles of the world. He saw the clearing in the forest towards the center of the island, and pulled Dactylos lower reins bringing them down to this peaceful jewel in the sea.
Feedback appreciated. Thanks!