Hours after their encounter with the leopard-spotted colt, the grullo twins had finally relaxed somewhat. Both had spent the remainder of the afternoon dozing and grazing what was left of the dying autumn grass, and now that the setting sun was casting shades of gold and peach across the landscape, they retired to the trees, following an old trail that carried them toward the rumbling of the falls.
If they had anything like a home, this was it. Their earliest memories were of early spring snows blanketing the trees and grass as far as the eye could see. Roza could still remember being woken in the middle of the night by her sister the first time it had snowed. She could still picture its luminosity, and the sense of magic it gave the crossing. It had even given her sister a blanket, just like her own. What a shame that they had not enjoyed it since. I hope it snows soon, she thought, and wondered if her sister felt the same.
They broke free of the trees, and like one mind went immediately to the water. A few peaceful moments passed in which the yearlings quenched their thirst, before Roza's eyes travelled across the pond to the horses that grazed on the far bank. She opened her mouth to speak, but Rohanne beat her to it.
"Roza, look."
She did not need to specify what to look at. Their eyes were drawn to the pale mare, who bore an uncanny resemblance to their mother. But as Roza narrowed her eyes to see better, her stomach dropped with disappointment. The horse was too skinny, with no feathering and not enough dapples. "It's not her," Roza said, her voice flat. She could feel her taller sister deflate beside her.
After a moment, Rohanne piped up, "Maybe we should say hi. We've already spoken to one horse today; we're on a roll. It'll help keep our mind off things." She leaned over to nibble Roza's mane.
The blanketed filly bristled at the thought of another unwanted conversation. "No, I--"
"Hello!" Rohanne shouted above the roar of the falls, tossing her head to catch the eye of the horses across the water.
Roza looked away and suppressed the urge to nip at her sister. "Great, make them think you're crazy," she murmured.
ROZA & ROHANNE
twin daughters of vitalij & asha |