asha & zakhar
Since her official debut into the herd with Zakhar, Asha had been determined not to slink away into hiding again. So she had remained quietly at the fringes of the loosely-gathered group: watching, listening, and keeping more or less to herself, but there nonetheless. Even if she were to consider isolating herself again, instincts told her that sticking together would be necessary for the long, dark winter ahead.
Zakhar, meanwhile, had flourished since they had become part of the herd. Though not yet weaned, he had become fiercely independent and spent most hours of the day exploring his home (though always within earshot) and attempting to make conversation with the others. His chatter, when he did grace her with his presence, was nearly incessant, and Asha often wondered if this was simply a by-product of his youth or if it was a trait passed down from his sire. He most certainly had not inherited his loose tongue from her bloodline.
Today, however, the roan foal was out of sorts, spending what few hours of daylight there were reclined at her feet in the grass, half-asleep and occasionally groaning. Asha kept a close eye on him as she grazed, and wondered idly if he had eaten something he shouldn’t have. When pressed on the issue, he responded only with insolent silence, as if pretending he could not hear her. A slow seed of irritation began to bloom in her chest, and she imagined what it might have been like if he was not here. Things would be as they should, she thought, then immediately regretted it.
A nicker echoing from within the recesses of the trees mercifully stirred her from her thoughts, and the heavy dappled mare looked up to see the short stature of the pony king appearing before her. Despite herself, she managed a soft smile and stepped forward to meet him. “Dogun,” she said, and reached out to touch his snout with hers. After a moment, she inclined her head toward the resting colt behind her and dropped her voice as though he was actually asleep.
”This is Zakhar.”
dapple grey blanket & 5 & draft mix & 17’2
blue roan & 5 months & mutt & 15’2 wfg |