An Exquisite Visit
A gate appeared in the sky. It was shimmering; a platinum flash in space only a dozen feet across, and it was quick. It was time enough for a brilliant creature to dash through, resplendent in the clear morning air.
It was long, supple, and sinuous. It wore a kind of sparse armour on its body, impressive in its conformity to the creature's form. The armour was radiant, streaked with iridescent crimson that flared at every nimble arc the creature performed. The minimal armour was revealing. Dazzling emerald scales covered its body, a delicate leaf green on its underbelly that darkened ever so gradually until it converged at its spine in the deep blue-green of the ocean. The scales met and melded in ways that formed intricate and enticing patterns; swirls and spirals that conjured everything in nature from images of shells to flowers to the sun itself. The lines flowed across the breadth of the creature's broad chest and hard stomach and down the serpentine grace of its tail in playful skips. They defined the creature's eloquent neck in rigid strokes, demarcated with sharp geometrical details. Atop its neck, the creature's head scanned the land below with intelligent eyes colored the uniform shade of smooth clay. It had a proud, angular head. Its moderate snout was only a smidgen beak-like, and the corners of its mouth were arched into a humble smile. A soft mane of feathery hair issued along the crest of its head.
In short order it spied what it had journeyed here for, and alighted on all four limbs with the touch of an insect in a small, fenced meadow. The day was still new; the sun perched behind the hills of the horizon touched the dark grass with a subtle glow, filtered by sweet smelling trees. Birds sang in the dawn jubilantly.
The dragon absorbed it all with quiet exuberance; the sights, the smells, the sensations underfoot and on its skin. He let them all sink into his being before turning his attentions to the other prominent creature in that place. The mare was glorious; her tan coat enhanced by warm rays of light that played across her figure as she made a few timid paces towards him. They were of a similar size. A wispy morning mist hugged the ground around her legs and tense body, but she seemed high above it, her head held tall with brown eyes bright and alert and focused on the interloper.
He met those eyes and held their gaze kindly for long moments until she at last released the tension in her muscles. He nodded his long neck as if to reassure her of this concession of trust. For a time he simply enjoyed her presence and the world around them waking up, bringing forth color and sound. White puffs issued in the air with each hot breath they exhaled. She would wander several paces very occasionally; not in his direction but randomly, the simple movement of a content animal, and allowed him to do the same without any hint of trepidation. She grazed, but would always bring her attention back to him with an air of interest; looking up from the ground, or sidelong at him, or turning her head and looking behind across her haunches, her mane of straw-colored hair flowing gracefully along the curve of her head and crest.
He absorbed her beauty with reverence and restrained desire, drinking in the details of her athletic form. His awareness skipped across her hard curves, delighted, finding new perfections with each appraisal. She came over to him once, reaching out tentatively with her regal head to sniff at him before retreating. Then again, more confidently. During these brief trysts her scent would flood his nostrils, and he drank in that musk with a gladness bordering on honor. He initiated no contact of his own until several visits in when she had whinnied at him softly and danced a jubilant skip beside him, clearly comfortable with his presence and eager to befriend him further. He laughed at that and, sensing his pleasure, she responded in another display of affection.
