vihar

The rustle of brush and gentle nicker of greeting announced the arrival of a visitor. Vihar’s head snapped toward the sounds, green eyes ablaze with hostility, but the dark stranger was no one she recognized. In the instant between hearing the approach and registering it, Vihar had forgotten that Rougaru and Annubis were both gone, and that her father was here with her until she foaled. Her immediate assumption was that the stranger was an enemy, and she was prepared to react violently. When the mare spoke, however, her words were straightforward and blunt; not growled softly and threateningly, nor honeyed and venomous.

Vihar relaxed a little, her ears lifting out of her dark mane. “Oh,” she said, tentatively relieved, still ever so slightly suspicious. The pale filly beside her blinked, and began to babble helpfully, as though she could clear everything right up with a few reassuring, gibberish words. “Thanks,” Vihar said, interrupting the child, who didn’t seem to mind. The black mare’s tone and distance went a long way towards comforting Vi, and she nodded gratefully. Still, she was curious to know where the stranger had come from. Vihar had never scented her on Paradise land before. “Did they leave you behind, too?” she asked, her tone a little dry, but not unfriendly.

By the time Solomon joined them, most of Vihar’s alarm had dissolved, but she remained less than relaxed. She did not get the sense that the dark mare checking in on her intended her any harm, but she had been isolated in Paradise for so long — even before the old herd left — that the presence of so many bodies around her at once, right after giving birth, was simply a little overwhelming.

Still, she straightened up and gave her father a sheepish smile as he came around her. He asked for a name, and she took a moment to think. She had called the filly ‘little wolf’ somewhat ironically, considering her paternal ancestry was rather unfortunate, but it actually seemed kind of fitting. “Vala,” she said. Vi glanced down to see if Vala understood, but the pale filly apparently did not care. “Eh, she’ll grow into it, I think.”

Solomon, who seemed familiar with the dark mare who had come to check on Vihar, introduced her as Wasp. The tobiano mare offered Wasp a smile, and Vala gave her a high-pitched squeal before returning to Vihar’s underbelly to nurse.

mare. 14.3hh. classic champagne dun roan tobiano. solomon x nadja.