~
The wind whipped over the sea, creating whitecaps on the surface that danced and winked and –along with the sparkling of the sunshine – gave the water a generally merry appearance. Gently, they made their way to the coastline, lapping and splashing rhythmically against the rocky shore. Further out from the shore, the waves were fiercer, threatening to sweep away anything that came into their path. And beyond those waves, faintly visible along the horizon, a cluster of islands sat and taunted her.
Paloma loved her home, with its nearly year-round warmth and sunshine. Her family herd had lived here for as long as anyone could remember, residing peacefully with many other herds beside the sea. Day in and day out, they grazed beneath the sunshine until the grass dried up in the heat, and then they moved inland to bask in the shade of the forests and mountains until the cooler, rainy season came and the grass had grown again. Whenever Paloma asked what the islands were, she was brushed aside and told there was no need for such silly questions. We have no use for them, Pequeña Paloma. Always, it was this way. Little Paloma, do not ask questions. Little Paloma, stay away from the sea.
Today, she had claimed she was once again out scouting for new graze. And today, like yesterday and the day before, it was a lie. Instead, she had wandered to the coast, her striped hooves picking carefully over the rocks until the water just barely swept up against them. The breeze teased at her streaked mane, tickling through the strands of chocolate and white until they lifted off her neck. Her amber eyes stared longingly out at the masses on the horizon. What was there? Why was no one else curious? She could hear them now: Step back, Pequeña Paloma, before you get swept away. Pinning her ears against the imaginary voices, she set her jaw. No, she thought, I will not step back. She would not let them hold her here any longer.
She began to stride out into the bay, relishing in the cool of the water against her warmed hide. Her hooves scrabbled against the sea floor until they no longer had traction, and then she flailed her legs as best she could in an attempt to direct herself toward those far away islands. At last, the current caught hold of her, and it was all she could do to keep her nose above the salty water in order to breathe.
What seemed like hours later, after a great struggle to keep on course, she was shoved forcefully by the waves upon the sandy shore of the largest land mass. She lay there for a moment with her eyes closed, her sides heaving after all her efforts. It was a relief to be done with the swim, and Paloma thought to herself that she might be staying out of the water for the foreseeable future.
Opening her eyes, she did not feel as though this promise to herself would be a difficult task. The island that spread before her was bigger than she could possibly have imagined. Most of it was relatively mild terrain, a few small hills and valleys, but above it all towered a small mountain range. She could hear the rush of water, a sound that she was unused to, and the more familiar babbling of streams. A vast meadow lay to her left, while directly in front was a mixture of tree clusters and clearings.
Spotting a few groups of horses through the foliage, Paloma rose to her feet, shook the excess sand and water from her body, and began to stride confidently toward them. She stopped beneath a great tree, shuffling her hooves among the leaves that had fallen to earth early. Looking with excitement upon this new land, she wondered what it might have in store for her.
PALOMA
mare; mutt; classic champagne leopard; 15.3 hh
|
|