Falls

You’re no one. You’re nothing. Words that had shaped his life... or lack of it. Shadows clung to his form like a second skin, an armour that he knew well and welcomed as the sun’s dwindling rays faded away. The last burst of light danced through the falls in a dazzling display, rainbows shimmering through the air. Many might have stared in awe at the sight, but not he. The raven carcass remained patiently amidst the tree’s that offered a cloak of shadows, gazing on only in wait for the night to finally arrive and take charge. And so it finally did. Empty eyes watched the colours disperse, the moons silver glow yet to replace the golden sun. This hour belonged to him. Step by step the stallion emerged from the tree’s to the darkness that now extended right across the lands, a shadow amongst shadows. With about as much to say as one. Dark eyes focused upon the pounding waters, drawn to the power of nature though all that there was to see was the glimmer of tumbling waters as they fell from high overhead. Noise filled the air before him, whilst behind the new night fell silent, as if it itself was in awe of the falls. But barely an expressed crossed the ebony steeds face. Eyes gazed as though nothing stirred within the confines of the scarred hide. There may as well as not been even a beat of his heart or breath in his lungs. But life lived within, buried deep and squashed into a little corner lurked that damaged soul that had retreated. Yet fornow there it remained, and his stong bulk moved as though on automatic. A living husk. Velvet lips broke the waters surface cool despite the summers heat, to quench a thirst he had pushed to the back of his mind. But his body demanded, still weary from the swim that had brought him upon those strange shore. He knew not where he had ended up, and cared not. He would be as he had everywhere else. No one. Anonymous. Perhaps he had been given a name on his birth, a real one. Yet from those early days he could recall nothing but the glare in his mothers eyes, the sharp bite of teeth, even the pain of hooves that had left him limping for weeks. His birth had been unforgiveable in her eyes. He had ruined her standing amongst the herd. The stallion that had forced himself upon her had been forgotten as soon as the new life emerged to take the blame. And there the blame had stayed. He was no one but a hindrance and a reminder to her ruin. Such memories stayed with the stallion. They were all he had to occupy his thoughts when the years had passed so empty. The scars would stay with him for life.