It was her older sister that answered her call. Evren watched Indira's casual approach with a tiny flame of impatience burning in her chest, all the while squinting and blinking rapidly as water dripped into her eyes. When her sister finally drew up beside her and asked what was wrong, the weanling filly turned her head and gestured with her nose out to the water. "Look," she said, indicating the helpless, half-drowned bird floating on the water a good distance away.
The creature was no longer panting so hard, but it was no longer moving anywhere near as much either. Its head was drooping low, its beak repeatedly touching the water and then jerking back up again, and its eyes were almost completely closed now. It no longer flapped or struggled; its wings were spread out and limp while the rain continued to pelt it mercilessly. Its energy was spent.
"It can't get out. It must have fallen into the oasis." Evren tilted her head, wondering how exactly that might have happened. Birds were so adept at staying in the air, she could not fathom how this one had got itself into this situation, but her heart ached with passionate sympathy all the same. Craning her head to peer sideways at Indira, Evren shot her an imploring glance. "Shouldn't we do something? I'm afraid it's going to die. I'd swim out myself, but..." Her voice trailed off. She hated that she was not a confident swimmer, and in this moment it brought her nothing but shame.
EVREN
weanling; bay tobiano; 15.3hh wfg |
