Besnik
A field stretched out to her right, emerald green under the high sun. At its center grazed a palomino draft gelding, broad and powerful, his golden coat catching the sunlight with every shift of muscle. His flaxen mane and tail stirred lazily in the breeze, while long white feathers at his hooves brushed the grass as he moved.
Besnik is Tarana's Tydian Forest Draft gelding. He is an important part of her life and has been since she was sixteen years old.
Physical Description
Body Features
Besnik is a striking palomino gelding with a shimmering golden coat, long creamy mane and tail, and soft white feathering around his legs. Despite his powerful draft build, his expressions are gentle, and his movements hold surprising grace. His amber eyes are warm, intelligent, and often expressive enough to communicate his moods without sound.
Mental characteristics
Personal history
Rescue & Bonding
Young Besnik first encountered Tarana in Baromund Forest when he became entangled in wire fencing. Tarana freed him, unknowingly beginning their lifelong bond. When a hunter fell under the sway of her Attraction curse, Besnik courageously stepped between them and chased the danger off.
In the weeks that follow, Tarana gently earned his trust, broke him in with patience, rode him bareback into a town for gear, and eventually hitched him to her caravan — giving her freedom of travel for the first time.
Stabbing and Lunar Revival
During her early twenties in Baromund, Tarana was attacked by Gwion while bathing. The Attraction curse heightened his instability, forcing Tarana to flee with Besnik. Gwion gave chase and, in a violent act, stabbed Besnik through the neck, leaving him dying on the forest floor.
Tarana attempted to save him, pressing her hands to the wound, and unknowingly released a surge of instinctive lunar healing power. Before she could see the result, Gwion forcibly took her to Tydaria, and Tarana believed Besnik had died.
Unbeknownst to her, her lunar power healed him fully. Besnik rose and returned to the caravan, waiting faithfully until Tarana’s return.
Their reunion occurred when Tarana and Sol revisited Baromund at the start of the first Royal Circuit. Tarana was stunned and overjoyed to find him alive, confirming that she had revived him through latent Lumina-born magic.
Personality Characteristics
Likes & Dislikes
Tarana dug into one of the bags and pulled out a burgundy mut. A mut was similar to a sweet potato, and to this day, was her horse's all time favorite thing to snack on. Besnik took it gently from her outstretched palm, lips soft despite his large size, and crunched contentedly as she scratched behind his ear.
Likes
- Muts (favorite)
- Oats
- Carrot pieces
- Warm sunny meadows
- Being groomed with food incentives
- Quiet naps under trees
- Tamra’s giggles and tiny pats
- The steady rhythm of caravan travel
Dislikes
- Grooming without treats (sometimes)
- Startling noises
- Strangers approaching Tarana too eagerly
- Sol waking him from naps (he tolerates it but pretends not to)
- Being urged to move before he's ready to. (must be bribed with muts)
Social
Contacts & Relations
Tarana
Besnik's chosen person. He trusts her fully and has been with her through loss, loneliness, and newfound freedom.
He is Tarana's first real animal companion before she met Cordea. She talks to Bes every day, and he listens like he understands every word.
He’s the one constant through:
- her loneliness
- her curse
- her fear
- her escape to Asrail
- her pregnancy
- and her journey back to Sol
Even after she becomes queen, Besnik remains her forest heart.
Other Bonds
King Sol Elantine
Besnik gradually warms to Sol, especially when Sol arrives with oats, carrots, or muts. Their dynamic is affectionate, with Sol often amused by Besnik’s stubborn intelligence.
Kira Danowyn
Trusts Kira almost just as much as Tarana. He allows her to ride him whenever needed and likes to see what she's working on while she's sitting.
Princess Tamra Soleil Elantine
Tamra is Besnik’s tiny friend. He behaves with remarkable gentleness around her, accepts muts from her hands, and allows her to nap on him.
Amatage
Besnik and Amatage have an odd couple sort of friendship. Besnik is pretty friendly towards him despite his haughtiness. They can be seen grazing together or sleeping near each other.
Cordea
Despite being Tarana's spiritual link, Cordea is still a wolf first and foremost. Besnik takes a bit of time to get used to her since she is a predator, but afterward, they look out for each other.
Mannerisms
- Flicks an ear back toward Tarana constantly while traveling, like he’s always listening for her voice or breathing.
- Nudges her shoulder or cheek when he senses she’s upset instead of making noise.
- Snorts at people he dislikes. Not aggressive — just judgmental.
- Gets very protective if strange men approach Tarana too quickly during her curse years.
- Calms instantly when Tarana hums Asrailian melodies.
- Loves muts so much that he starts searching Tarana’s pockets the second he smells them.
- Pushes his nose into Tarana’s hair or veil when greeting her after separation.
- Refuses to walk away if Tarana is crying.
- Sleeps lightly but deeply relaxes if Tarana is nearby.
- Steps carefully around children naturally, especially Tamra.
- Develops a softer demeanor around Tamra and lets her grab his mane without complaint.
- Lifts foot automatically so Tarana can mount more easily when she’s exhausted or pregnant.
- During peaceful caravan nights, he dozes with one back hoof cocked while listening to Tarana cook and hum nearby.
Mut Collector
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