There is no better way to know us
than as two wolves, come separately to a wood
The two had been soaking up the last rays of the sun when Sinopa noticed a white figure moving in the fading light a little ways below them. Earlier in the day they had roamed the area in search of a place to call theirs, and they found it. (They always got what they wanted.) It was a small clearing near the base of a small series of falls, where the river was sluggish and the water less rowdy. They’d seen others passing by, completely unaware of the two watching from above. None had piqued their curiosity – not since the gold and snow boy they’d met in the so called ‘Lair of the Beasts’. But then Sinopa spoke, and her words changed everything. “Wonder where our pale mystery is going in such a hurry?”
The off-black and white mare did not hesitate. She moved fluidly, right to the edge of the mossy stone ledge (far closer than Sinopa was willing to go), and with a harsh snort blown over her shoulder to her sister, she clambered down the slimy steps, water spraying up her legs as she splashed in shallow water. “Don’t break a leg, Toli!” Sinopa called, already turning to make her own way down. Sometimes, even she wasn’t brave enough to follow where Tolinka led. Not that she’d ever admit it.
Tolinka was waiting, and silently the two headed in the direction they’d seen the unknown horse heading. Whoever it was had been moving at quite a speed, and Sinopa was of the opinion that runners were always fascinating. On this occasion, there appeared to be no pursuers, and so, that was what the girls became. They followed, and when they found the one they were looking for, they waited and watched from the shadows. Tolinka had her head low, eyes fixed on the stallion as he waded into the pool, and her expression was one that Sinopa couldn’t quite read. And if Sinopa lived for anything (aside from her sister, of course), it was mysteries. What luck! One moment she was basking in soft golden light, and the next, two mysteries had fallen into her lap…
Then the male spoke, had turned and was scanning the trees in which they lurked like hungry wolves, and Tolinka jerked her head up, ears turning back. Sinopa studied her sister, curious as ever. How was it that she had managed to get herself so wet? The pools had only been shallow, and yet her two-toned mane, light and dark, seemed plastered to her neck in places. And was that… Disappointment in her sister’s eyes?! Oh, she just had to talk to this rogue, try and work out what Tolinka saw in him.
Sliding out of the shadows with all the grace and cunning of a vixen, she fixed the stallion with a hard stare. Or, she tried to. His ears, they were so funny looking, so strange and bold sitting atop his moonlight body, like some kind of dusty crown. “Ugh,” she snorted, trying to be irritated, failing to keep the smile from her lips and her voice. “You just ruined the whole game!” Sinopa flicked a dark ear as she heard Tolinka emerge and stand beside her, a soft exhalation and warm breath on her brown coat. “See, I’m almost sure that this one here was about to stake her claim on you. She’s only done that once before, when we were fillies. Scared the poor boy half to death she did.” Her words were low, spoken with fondness.
She glanced sideways as Tolinka pulled away to stand upon the bank, so that the water lapped at her hooves. “Can’t imagine why,” Sinopa finished, her words edged with amusement, unspoken questions, and just a touch of confusion (or was it more like jealousy?). She’d be keeping her eye on him, that was certain. Sinopa would always be green when it came to those who succeeded in drawing her sister away from her, for however brief a time.
SINOPA + TOLINKA
the fox && the hound
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