Before Ava managed to reach what she assumed was the rest of Orhan’s herd by the oasis, someone else answered her greeting call. Pausing, she lifted her little golden head as her emerald eyes scanned the sandy slopes for the source of the noise. To her surprise she caught sight of a chocolate coloured stallion a short distance away. He was bigger than her – but then, so was everyone else on these islands – but he looked somehow smaller than his size, as if he were exhausted and collapsing in upon himself. Though his word was unthreatening, Ava tensed warily anyway. Orhan had not mentioned anything about another stallion living in the Dunes, and in all her many years Ava had never had a good experience when it came to unexpected male visitors approaching her. “Hello,” she called back, her voice light and gentle. She was hesitant for a moment, but the stranger looked and sounded so harmless that she decided to take the risk. Slowly, she took a few steps towards him, her tiny hooves whispering across the sand as she approached. As she drew closer, she noticed his eyes – blind – and her heart warmed for him suddenly. “I’m Ava,” she said, coming to stand before the stranger. “Who are you?” |