Many would have grown angry at her consistent aggression and the sharp tone in her voice. But Fundamental remains ever calm, unruffled by her demeanor and still even finds it fascinating. As his eyes watch her move to peer out at him through the branches, he studies her face a moment in silence. She was a sharp woman; one he knew would not hesitate in battle. It was a trait one would look for in a lead mare and so he takes the moment serious as he tries to judge how she would fair with such a job. But slowly the serious look melts away and again the humor is placed upon his face. Fundamental didn’t have a herd for her to be lead of so the thought was rather pointless.


“I do believe someone told me to go away” he said and if he could have raised an eyebrow he probably would have. Fundamental allowed that to sink in a moment, letting her brew over him having something over her. The stallion knew she wouldn’t care for that too much, the need to rely on someone else a sore point he had saw since he had first spoken to her. But he was not the cruel kind and didn’t want her staying here beneath the tree to prove she didn’t need him, something he already knew.


“Come on then” he finally said before turning away from her, not bothering to look back. She would either follow him or she wouldn’t but regardless Fundamental was not going to stand there all night. His hooves soon touched the frozen grass mixed with snow, glad to be leaving the wet sand behind. A nearly invisible trail lay out before him, one that was used countless times before them by many other herds. If one would only look for such things the mystery of this land would slowly reveal each secret it held, including the hot spring nestled up in the crevices he had found only yesterday.


Fundamental walked steadily through the thickening trees; his pace never wavering and he never once seemed lost. The stallion knew where he was going and as time passed and only the faint glow of the sun that cast red streaks across the sky was left to outline the growing rocks around them. Large boulders lay around them, scattered like marbles against the sheer wall on his right side. Slowly the left was beginning to drop off, the trail narrowing as they went. But it had not became dangerous yet, the path still wide enough for two horses to walk side by side when he suddenly cut into the rocks. It was narrow here, a large crack in the rock that any larger breed could not fit within. Having to duck his head, Fundamental’s shoulders scraped lightly against the walls leaving behind his scent as he went. But as they reached within, the crevice widened, becoming a rounded area that snow littered. Turning his eyes skyward, the rock had disappeared leaving only the walls to stand guard around them. It was a safe haven that only he knew about and off to the back was a large cave. A shelter in which he had knew would be perfect for mares and foals, the only entrance the way they had come and easy to protect. The walls were too high for anything to come down without a broken neck.


Stopping in the center of the rounded area, Fundamental turned his eyes back to the mare wondering what she might think of this sacred place but he didn’t speak, leaving the silence to hang between them.

stallion | 6 | ee/aa/nSb | 15hh | mutt