The snow, it was her friend. How she loved the white flakes, each one unique to itself. She loved the cold and the silence of it all. It was the perfection, but she didn’t dare head that way. How could she? Her family knows of her love for the cold. They would track her down in that area and torture her until she ran again. They always said she was like them. The more she tried to deny it, the more they pushed the issue. Their favorite excuse was the snow. The winter season was dead and how could she not be like them if she enjoyed the dead season. Yet, what they didn’t know is she didn’t see death. She saw life, she saw beauty, and most importantly she saw a beginning. Winter wasn’t the time of death; it was the time of renewal. Many think that is what spring is, but it isn’t. In the winter, you shed your old skin and put all the old behind you. Spring was about life. Summer was about fun and fall was about working towards the new skin. In the winter, everything shed its old skin and was getting ready to start again. Yes, it could be a harsh time but that is the point. With the harshness of it all, teamwork became a vital part of living. How could social interaction not be a part of life? Slowly, she entered The Ridge. Her eyes darted to and fro, dancing their dance. They picked up the lovely landscape (that was slightly sickening to the lost one). She was a ravine type place. The rockiness of it all appealed to her. The bareness of it was wonderful and made her feel safe and secure. She could see another level, but for the time being she was happy to be right where she was. Down here, nobody could find her. She was safe, at least for the time being. Hooves clattered against the rocks, causing some to fall away. The sound of it all was musical. A soft snort of contentment was passed as she moved further in. She knew that perhaps she should stop and wait for the lord to come to her, but she was taken by it all. Her heart raced and she just wanted to run, but she kept herself in check. There was no telling what this lord was like. Her father had been deceiving. To the ladies, he was a real charmer, which was until you pissed him off. After that, it was game over. Once you angered him, he became a real beast and a killing machine. She had once seen him turn a mare away for breeding with another stallion. She recalls him even killing the child for being not of his blood, the poor thing. Shaking her head of the awful memories, she comes up short by a cavern hidden by trees. It looked so out of place from it all that she had to stop here. It seemed a lot like her. It was a thing that didn’t belong. THE RUINS flickered her ears and she took in a deep breath. It seemed as if the herd was small and that pleased her. There were also no familiar scents for her to worry about. Sighing out of relief, she took the moment to just be. Could it be, no, it could, could it? Could she have finally found a place in which she can stop running? Freedom, the one thing she yearns for above all. She also wants a place to simply exist in, a place that will not seek to control her, and most of all (!) a place that will accept her oddities. She is simply tired of not belonging. It seemed, no matter where she went, she never truly belonged. Others couldn’t tell if she was as dark hearted as her coat or as light and cheery as a butterfly. Why couldn’t they accept she was neither? She simply was. She has no good and no bad. She saw death as a beautiful thing but also saw life the same way. In everything, she could find that spark that made the world exist. Was that crazy? Was that weird? It would appear so. Yet, that is who she was. That was something her parents could not accept. They disowned her, but kept her all at the same time. She was just some doll for them to play with, particularly her brother. Hiding the dark cavern, she took to herself. Her thoughts turned inward and she searched for the answers that have always eluded her. Who was she? What did she want and the biggest question of all was she finally free? She did not want for much, her needs were simple. Yet, she found herself searching for companionship more and more as each day went by. Perhaps it was her age getting to her or perhaps her instincts knew that there was safety in numbers. Either way, she has found herself a new place to be, that is until the lord discovers her and boots her out the door. She is no actress, so perhaps it will be a quick boot for they will find the secrets she hides. mare _ friesian x draft mix _ black Ee _ sixteen hands _ eight years _ mare of nowhere _ riyfina |