Amaranthe watched Tithe as he moved around them. Occasionally he would gently stick his nose here and there (only in the most polite of areas) on both Nephiliam and his mother, as if comparing the two of them, and scratching himself to see if he was the same or different. She could tell that he had one ear trained on the pair, even as he started to investigate the rocks and the water at their feet. He never dared go too far from her, especially since a lot of his attention was taken up by studying and watching Nephiliam. It was one thing to learn from your mother, your family. It was another story to learn from others around you, your herd. Nephiliam was the first other horse, other than mother, that the colt had met.

Nephiliam’s question almost made the mare flinch, understanding how her words might have sounded since he had not been in her head. She was determined not to raise him as she had been raised. Though she did not know how, she wanted to show this colt kindness, maybe even affection. It pained her to think he might never know the tenderness she knew he deserved. There was more to strength than might, but of that she could only give him so much.

“Test? No. Teach? Yes.” She clarified. “He is still young and barely knows how to stand on his own feet. When he is a little older, I want to teach him.” Her ears twitched, her mind tripping over itself in regards to the colt. This was not the life she had thought she would have and it continued to shake everything she knew. “He will grow to be great, a greater man than his father could ever dream of being. I won’t let him live through the harassment my herd accepted.” Some of her instinctual and internalized determination came back to her voice and her stature. Not realizing she had mentioned Tithe’s sire for the first time, she continued on and smirked at Nephiliam, relaxing a little and her tone turning friendly.

“Besides, it would be a shame if I had to step in because you two couldn’t control yourselves. You’re starting to grow on me, I would be upset if I had to kick you in the face for biting too hard.”

AMARANTHE

MARE :: FRIESIAN :: 15.3hh :: BLACK