I saw you in my dream last night
you had a smile so white.
I thought your teeth were the stars.
your eyes they were like tiny rivers,
well, it gave me the shivers
when you looked right up at me

Larka listened carefully as the group spoke and her heart sunk. Perhaps she might have even cried; but afraid of drawing the attention to herself she only softened her face with a look of worry. As she stood close to the grullo’s side; the mother mare reached to do the same. No waves of jealousy hit the black and white, just sympathy for the loss and an understanding for the need to feel close to someone. Had Larka been a more outspoken mare she might have offered words of comfort; but she was silent and still. Never changing her position close to Nikola’s, in case he suddenly needed her.

She did want to comfort him though, because by the way his voice sounded, she wondered if he blamed himself. She thought blame to be a toxic feeling; and the look of heartbreak in his face only made her feel even worse. Oh how the painted girl wanted to wash all of that away, and secretly wished they were alone so she could at least voice this; but before she could get too in the moment something happened suddenly.

Larka had been watching the colt when Pierce pulled her move. Suddenly a flash of bay flesh lashed out in front of her and towards Nikola. She felt the adrenaline pump through her body and gave a startled mini-rear and a toss of her head. Her insides told her to run away but she fought them as her hooves found the ground again.

The mare had already cantered a few steps away and Larka flattened her ears back. For a moment she turned into a whole new creature, not worrying about what the group thought of her. She chased after the mare, eyes wild and nose flared. Stopping a few steps before her, Larka lowered her head parallel to her body and flattened everything to make herself seem streamlined. In this moment her anger was winning out.

”How dare you?” She asked; ”I wanted to give you the benefit of the doubt! I thought deep down inside you were a nice mare and we just got off on a bad foot. But you know what, you are just plain-“ She struggled for the next word as it caught itself in her throat. Then realization hit. Her features softened with embarrassment and her eyes, once focused on the bay mare, shifted to the ground. This was something her mother would have called stupid; uncalled for; and most definitely un-lady-like.

”I’m sorry.” She murmured, never daring to look back at the group. She could only imagine what Nikola would say. So quickly, she cantered off past the hills and toward the trees. She needed some time alone.

you can stay here a while in this hotel heart
people come and they go everyday
I'll never let it get cold or dark or crowded
I'll never give your spot away.