There is no better way to know us
than as two wolves, come separately to a wood
When he met her eyes, Tolinka did not move, hardly even breathed. She found words piecing themselves together in the hidden depths of her mind, but before they had a chance to rise to her lips, he was moving away from her, to stand by her sister instead. The black and white mare felt a spike of bitterness stab at her heart, and for the first time in her life, she wished she was more like her sister. But Sinopa had received all the charm, leaving Tolinka with words and expressions she thought too precious to waste on the great majority. So she held her tongue, but she could not help but turn her ears back, a forehoof making a splash as she struck the shallow water.
“Yes, I’m sure it is,” Sinopa said with a smile, though her eyes darted to Toli, confused. This wasn’t part of the game – what was she doing? As Asche spoke again, ridding himself of excess water as he did so, Sinopa tried to give him her full attention, but the mask she was wearing began to slip a little. Fearing he’d notice, she hastily corrected herself, and shifted so that for a moment their sides touched. “We only terrorise the best-” she began, but was cut short.
“No.”
Tolinka had raised her head, and for the first time since they had arrived at the pool, she seemed to ignore Asche completely. This one word, spoken with a weight of authority, was meant for her sister alone. For a moment the two stared at one another, and it was only when Sinopa lifted her muzzle ever so slightly that the smoky black and white mare turned away, wading into the pool so that she stood roughly where the stallion had been minutes earlier. “I watched you,” she said, her back to them, her voice little more than a growl, expressive and under-used. “From up there.” And she gestured with her muzzle, the movement a rough jerk of her head, contrasting with the grace of all her other movements.
The last light of day had faded from the sky, and the moon shone down on them, casting shadows on Tolinka’s already dark & light hide. “I wasn’t satisfied with so brief a glimpse. You were faraway, and it was like looking through a veil of mist. I hoped…” She turned, her bearing speaking of strength while her husky voice spoke of more sensitive things. “I wanted more. Wanted… To know you.” The last three words were quiet, dripping from her lips like water and light.
“That is why I came.” Again, there was a feeling that these words were for the other mare, even though Tolinka did not look at her this time. For a few moments more, her dark blue eyes lingered upon the pale figure of Asche, before she let them wander over the small clearing. Eventually they settled on the patch of sky above them. The stars were bright, tonight, scattered like sparks in the darkness. Tolinka gave a small, contented sigh, and relaxed, the water helping to cool her body, because she felt like she was burning inside, with all that she wanted, and all that she had left unspoken.
For once, Sinopa had nothing to say. She was afraid, and no longer tried to hide it. Tolinka was by no means unintelligent – she was actually the smarter of the two truth be told. But the bay mare was worried that her sister had forgotten what had happened to her last time she’d let a stallion get so close. And then there was the darker, more dangerous fear that Sinopa tried to ignore. Perhaps Tolinka hadn’t been snared, perhaps she’d allowed herself to be caught up in Asche. It hurt, the idea of Tolinka needing, wanting someone else in her life. Was Sinopa no longer enough? The bay mare lowered her head a little, straightening so that she no longer touched the stallion beside her. She kept silent, watching and waiting, because she also feared that to speak now would somehow make things worse.
SINOPA + TOLINKA
the fox && the hound
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