Snow flake after snow flake spiraled down to the earth to pile and grow with each passing day. Fundamental had watched and learned, each crystal seeming to hold its own story as it fell before his eyes. This morning was no different as he emerged from his shelter, his eyes peering out into the world that surrounded him. His world he always reminded himself every morning knowing full and well the time would come when he would need to defend such a title he had claimed for himself. But that had not come yet and so the stallion simply relaxed and watched as winter became stronger with every rise and fall of the sun.


As the stallion stood there the soft breeze that caused the snow to dance around him also brought the scent of someone new. Ears twitching forward, he peered over the cliff edge that lay before him to see if there was anyone below for him to see. Nothing; only green of the pines and white of the snow to greet his vision as he peered down at the landscape spread at his feet. It only took him a moment to decide he should investigate and so he turned and made his way down the rocky cliff face where he eventually reached the bottom.


Curiosity now ate at the stallion as the scent became stronger, his legs carrying him the general direction it was coming from. Fundamental would not have seen the mare should she not have moved, scratching at the bark of a tree. His eyes caught the faint movement of black and white among shadows and snow, knowing that this had to be the owner of the scent. Turning his steps so that he approached her, the stallion did not stop until he was only but a horse length away. Fundamental quickly saw that this mare was pregnant and was not about to appear threatening to her could he help it. So keeping his ears forward and his look gentle he gave a deep rumbling nicker of greeting.

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