K O L F I N N A
Along with the sisters Kyuubi and Kurama, as well as Amunet, Kolfinna rested for the night, a spark of joy warming her soul. It was good to be among others again. The greying brindle mare was not one who did well on her own. She craved connection with others, companionship. It had also eased the anxiety within her that had been starting to build that other mares had come to the Mountain. Of course, she still had concerns, about what had happened to all those who’d left their scents behind, growing stale. But now that she had others with her, especially one as outgoing and confident as Kyuubi, Kolfinna had faith that somehow, she would find answers to at least some of the questions that crowded her mind.
Almost as if the Mountain had sensed her desire to seek and save what had been lost, the very next day, the winds travelling up the mountainside carried scents other than fresh pine. Kolfinna lifted her muzzle into the wind, her eyes narrowing in concentration. At least one of the scents was vaguely familiar – she was sure she’d found traces of it in her explorations of the Peak’s slopes before she’d met the twins and Amunet. Just when Kolfinna was beginning to doubt herself, a call rang out, echoing off the rocky slopes, summoning all who heard it into the valley. A thrill of excitement travelled the length of the young mare’s spine, and she tossed her head, looking for her three new friends.
She spotted the twins on the slopes below her, already descending the mountainside. Eagerly, Kolfinna took off after them, letting loose a quieter call that she hoped Amunet would here if she hadn’t wandered too far, inviting the dark, slender mare to join them down in the valley. By the time Kolfinna caught up with Kyuubi and Kurama, they had stopped. Moving past them, touching her muzzle briefly to Kurama’s shoulder as she went by, Kolfinna glanced at the stranger standing near Kyuubi and smiled in greeting. She halted a little way ahead of them, standing off to the side so that she did not come between the two groups. After all, the trio ahead of her were no enemies to this place. Two mares, and a colt. “Greetings. I am Kolfinna, and these are my friends,” she turned to look back briefly at the twins, allowing them to introduce themselves when they were ready, and then her gaze drifted to the grey mare beside them.
Something about this one reminded Kolfinna of Amunet. The way she held herself maybe, or perhaps the delicate strength she seemed to possess. Kolfinna had not seen her before, and would be sure to make time to acquaint herself with this newcomer later. For now, though, her attention returned to the pair of mares ahead. The way the younger mare seemed to look to the older led Kolfinna to believe there was some familial connection there as well as deference of another kind. It was the chestnut mare, with her mane of pale gold, who must have called them. Within her, Kolfinna felt her heart swell in anticipation.
Her gaze drifted to the bay mare, who stood slightly taller than her chestnut companion, and her hazel eyes brightened. Even the colt was a welcome sight. Suddenly the homesickness Kolfinna felt for her family far across the sea seemed much less than it was, even though she stood amongst a crowd of strangers. “I think…” Kolfinna trailed off, and cast her attention back to the chestnut mare. “I think I have been waiting for you,” she said softly, her gaze lingering on the older mare for a few moments, before settling back on the younger mare, waiting eagerly to hear what they had to say, and fighting to hold back her queries from flowing out of her mouth like a fresh mountain spring. Answers would come in time, she was sure.
The restlessness that had been her sole companion for the last few months was gone and Kolfinna was granted a small measure of peace, knowing with certainty that she was no longer alone.
THE MOUNTAINBORN
|