Common

Drifting in shallow dreams, Nadja was pulled into wakefulness by a gentle voice. She blinked slowly, eyes focusing on a golden mare standing above her. The other mare seemed to be keeping watch, but her eyes were on Nadja, waiting patiently for her to wake up.

”Shaydowfax,” she repeated softly. ”I’m alright, thank you. Have you been watching for long?” Her voice held no accusatory tone, only slight concern. She was grateful to the other mare for her vigil and hoped she had not caused her undue stress.

Nadja began to rise to her feet, shaking mildly. She leaned against a tree while the blood rushed back into her stiff limbs. As the numbing veil of sleep began to slip away, the sticky tar of grief returned, gluing her hooves to the ground and pulling the salt-roughened strands of her mane and tail. She had to take a few moments for the sorrow to roll through her, and she closed her eyes briefly, taking slow shallow breaths. ”I’m sorry,” she said to Shaydowfax. ”I had a difficult journey. I don’t mean to be rude.”

honey and gold for the taking