The dark canopies struck fear into her core. She shuddered to rid herself of it, however it would not go. Her sooty strawberry hide moved onwards, thin strips of light dappling her quarters. The tiny thwaps of the foal’s hooves behind her were of no comfort. She didn’t even know how to treat the tiny young one.

She stopped now, her breath coming quickly, sweat starting to sparkle upon her pelt. This place gave her the creeps, much like the dark lagoon where Mikhail had tricked her to imprisonment. She feared that entrapment, the evil creatures that lurked from the depths, hiding behind each tree, aiming for a grasp on her quarters. She could still feel the eyes that bore into her, hungry, like wolves in winter.

Mother, was paranoid. She sweated and fussed and walked like every leaf was a mighty fine killer. Mother never talked to me none. At first I tried to make conversation, the little lips of mine, no nuffin about how to talk proper. It annoys mother. She hates my talk. I don’t talk much no more, I don’t want her to anger none.

I found the forest ‘eutiful. Its darkness comforted me. It was like it cuddled me, when mother would ignore me. I go hungry when she goes into her quite times. I don’t disturb her then, I made that mistake once and I aint again. We barely ever moved, just walkin roun’ in circles most of the time. We stay in the territory mother says we were driven into, she says it like a bad thing. I dun even know my name. What even is a name. Perhaps I am Child. That’s all mother says to me. Child leave, or Child shush. I dun know.

I wan’ed to ave some friends. To talk to sum horses, per’aps little uns like me self. The leaves on the ground were red an yellow, and theyd be mighty fun if anuther were to come play with me sum. Maybe mother could be happy if she met another horse who wouldn’t bother her none like I do.