A response did not come to her call in the form of a spoken word. Hickere had thought perhaps she would see one of her sisters, Braylen, or any member of the forest that she had yet to meet. From the shadows of the forest came a stallion she did not recognize by sight or scent. Eyes rolling, whites flashing, Hickere’s ears pinned back as her nimble limbs scrambled back and away from the stream. A squeal burst from her lips, a cry for someone to come save her. Like any little girl would dream of a hero, Hickere thought of Braylen.
This stallion smelled of ocean, not of Luthien. His body language was aggressive, far more than Hickere was used to. She’d watched her father when he’d driven other stallions from the band when they’d come too close but she’d always felt protected. Like any daughter, in her eyes, no father could be beaten. Yet now she was miles upon miles from her father and her safety was lying in the clutches of the two stallions who reigned over the forest grounds.
In spite of feeling inferior where this stallion seemed strong, Hickere was desperate to not be separated from this home. She might have not spent enough time here to be bound tightly to it but this was where her sisters were, this was where she intended to begin her new life. She tried to cut a different path, one that would turn them around and further into the forest, even though Hickere felt this stallion would know better and easily (or perhaps aggressively) block her from doing so.
Then, a familiar white-splashed stallion came charging in to the fray with a bellow. Her heart ached with relief, brown eyes wide on him. “Braylen!” As if a young girl’s dreams had come true, Braylen had come to protect her from this strange aggressor. Hickere pulled herself past Braylen as he came between them, clearing the area in case the two shared a scuffle, her heart beating rapidly in her chest. Her eyes were wide as they watched Braylen’s legs kick out, her skin rolling with nerves.
of the forest
grullo [aa Ee Dd], fourteen.onehands, arabian cross filly, two years old, played by pirate |