My memory rests but never forgets
What I lost

The next mare to turn up, slipping unassumingly out of the trees, was Arris. I returned her silant greeting with a small nudge against her pale shoulder with my muzzle. Beanna was not so reserved in her greeting. Though not nearly as outgoing as many foals I had seen, Beanna still startled me on a daily basis with how quickly she was overcoming her blindness. The skinny red dun noticed Arris even before she reached us, ears perking up and nostrils flaring as she gazed with sightless eyes in the direction of Arris. A tiny, happy noise escaped her fuzzy muzzle and she ducked around me with surprising dexterity. Seaming quite content, she wedged herself between myself and Arris, lipped the painted mare's flank happily, then turned her attention to the other mares who were slowly trickling in.

I watched warily as the gathering grew and more an more mares, some with foals of there own, marched into the grassy clearing. I was not avers to large gatherings, though I was never a truely social creature. But I had been raised in a large herd, surrounded by a sea of horse flesh my whole life. If anything, the sight of mare after mare stepping closer was almost reassuringly familiar. I could see Arris was slightly uncomfortable- her last group meeting had ended badly- but in contrast I was feeling surprisingly calm. There was no stallions here to put me on edge or to hold me tongue around. I was surounded by equals.

My silvery neck arced slightly and my ears tipped forward as Anath began explaining her reasons for calling us. Apparently she wanted to get to know us, as well as to congratulate the large spotted mare who was now "Prime Minister." Whatever that meant.

I remained silent, having nothing to say. I knew very few of these horses and had little desire to remedy that. Maybe someday, if I encountered one or two of them on there own, but for now I saw them only as part of the herd. And a herd is only a survival mechanism, or had been in my experience. A herd ment safty and strength but not true companionship. In all my life Arris was the first true friend I had made, and that had not come about in any herd gathering or group setting, but by a breif encounter in the night. I had always been in a herd and I was sure I always would be. But herds are led, and hammered into shape, and made strong by whatever means posable. But most importantly they are made. They are things. They are not loved and they do not love back.

Silver grullo | 14.3hh | Rocky mountain horse | 5 | The Peak | Gecko

Red dun | 15hh wfl | Nokota x Rocky mountian horse | Border x Iolar | The Peak | Blind