NYAZIK
”That’s just silly” Nyazik had said to her mother upon hearing why they were on the islands and why Wolpertinger, her mother’s reluctant bodyguard, kept them away from pretty much everything and everyone. It just didn’t make any sense to the buckskin filly, especially when any sense of danger went right over her head. Nyazik had always been a fearless child and that had not faded as she’s aged, if anything it intensified. She couldn’t understand why they didn’t just take what was theirs, or at least why Keyik wouldn’t. Wolpertinger had always been another story. From what Nyazik gathered, Wolpertinger was from a tribe of cowards. Wars weren’t won by hiding away; they were won through blood, sweat and tears; something Nyazik would not shy away from shedding – both from herself and her foes.
Living (if you could call it that) on the fringes of the Salem territories and keeping off the other residents’ radars was growing old and Nyazik found herself getting more and more frustrated by the day. She was a sun, she was supposed to be seen. Eventually, as dawn began on morning, Nyazik stood with her head raised to the twilight sky. Keyik was on her right side, while Wolpertinger grazed a few feet in front of them. She glanced at her mother sidelong and sighed, “Do what you like, but I’m going to live my life. I won’t hide from anyone.”
Neither mare argued with her, perhaps they were all argued out or they just didn’t think she was in any danger. Keyik had never really been overly loving and, although there was no doubt she cared for her child, she was probably happy to not have another being around to look out for. Keyik was used to relying on Wolpertinger for her own protection but the blanketed mare had never been Nyazik’s biggest fan – truth be told, she was not subtle about voicing her thoughts on Nyazik’s conception being Keyik’s mistake. She put up with the filly and more. Her loss, Nyazik thought with a flick of her tail as she left the pair under the steadily lightening sky.
The shifting dunes were no feat or obstacle to the buckskin filly, she was built to conquer them (and anything else that got in her way). By the time she reached the oasis where the dunes herd were scattered, the morning sun had already risen high above the horizon, and a lather of sweat had gathered on her metallic coat. She did not gasp and pant for air though, nor did she run for the refreshing waters to quench her thirst. Instead, the young buckskin stood atop one of the steep sand dunes, blue eyes cast down on the herd below as she pondered her next move.
15.2HH BUCKSKIN AKHAL-TEKE FILLY
MASLAKHAT x KEYIK
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