Common

Frigid seawater cascaded down the sides of Kirova’s mahogany body and out of her thick mane as she lifted herself out of the waves. Her fluffy winter coat was drenched and flattened, plastered to her toned muscles like a shiny skin. She shivered, but only slightly. The mare was built for the cold. She liked it.

Sand turned into grass as the seal brown mare climbed away from the shore, and she paused to shake herself out, spraying water on the grass and a few trees close to her. She was still damp, but her coat was fluffed up a bit now, and the wind did not cut so bitterly through it to her flesh. She carried on, picking up a trot and making her way steadily inland. She paused once to drink from the falls, then kept moving. Her mane and tail were still heavy with water, but they lightened as she traveled, and by the time she reached the Commons they were fairly stiff, but no longer dripping.

Here she did finally stop. Shaking herself once more, the mare remained at the edge of the Commons for a few moments, taking it in. She had heard of this place. She wondered if she’d find the missing members of her herd here, but she knew that was not certain. For now, she reached down to nose away the wet snow and pull at the dull, limp green grass that was revealed beneath. She would continue searching once she had rested and eaten.