Taytim

To the rest of the world around them, it was a normal day. The sun was high, and the summer had truly enveloped the Crossing in its warm but temperate embrace. But to a little filly, it was an incredible day! Reality alternated between a bird in the sky being her nemesis, bent on defeating her; to her being a mighty warrior, challenging flying creature to a duel. Her playful smirk was permanently on her face at its retreat. The child’s attention shifted to her mother. Her graying face broke into a grin and she dashed over to the mare. Playfully she nipped at Taytim’s mane and neck. With no hesitation at all, the young mother nipped back and excited her offspring into a game of chase.

Taika went tearing away from Taytim, her young legs stretching to their fullest as she raced down a path commonly traveled in the Peak. Behind her, Taytim merely cantered, calling out that she was right on her heels, and about to catch up. Every time mother approached daughter, lipping gently at the salting flank, the filly squealed with delighted terror and pressed herself faster. Innocent eyes saw a dark shape down the path. She knew nothing of age, of sorrow, fear, fate, or torment. Weariness that sunk into the bones of others was as distant of a concept as the moon that was alway forgotten until night fell. All she knew was that this was another horse, one she had not met, but one she was about to!

Little hooves clattered on the rocks of the mountain and Taika spun herself when she approached to hide behind El Aran.

”Save me!” Her young voice cried out. ”She’s going to get me!”

The chestnut mare pulled up suddenly before El Aran, surprise on her every feature.

”El Aran!” She exclaimed excitedly. Though she had been hopeful, she had honestly not expected to see this mare again. She had worried they had been too different, too confusing, too far to ever cross paths again. The delight that she felt as seeing one who she considered a friend was only partially subdued by the grimness she saw on the other mare. Her smile still shined as she reached her nose out in greeting. ”It is good to see you!”

Apparently annoyed that her mother knew someone and something she did not, Taika marched directly up to El Aran and put her face as far up as she could and narrowed her eyes at her. ”Who are you? Why do you know my mom and not me?”

~:Mare

~:Morgan Mutt

~:14.2hh

~:Black Chestnut

~:4 Years