With the snow muffling the world around her, and no one within easy earshot, Rohanne allowed herself to cry quietly. Tears had no sooner begun to well up in her eyes and freeze on her cheeks, however, than she became aware of the indistinct silhouette of a horse materializing out of the stark whiteness. She sucked in a quick breath of panic, certain that Nephilim or one of his daughters had overheard her soft whimpering and had come to check on her, but to her utter astonishment it was an unfamiliar stallion that closed in on her, smelling strongly of the sea. Before she could even process what was happening he was circling her, pressing against her, urging her back in the direction he had come with a curt command that made her skin crawl.
Flattening her ears against her snow-covered mane, Rohanne stumbled sideways in a clumsy attempt to get away from the stranger. "Stop it!" she cried, her dark eyes rolling as she shot him a venomous glare, but her protest sounded weak and futile even to her own ears. She could see in this stallion's face that he had no intention of leaving without her, and she did not think she had the strength or confidence to fight him off. Just as she was beginning to wonder if she would be able to outrun him, piercing screams filled the air. Rohanne had just enough time to turn her head and see the pale forms of Nephilim and Mariael barrelling toward the strange stallion, their faces contorted with feral rage, before they closed in on him on either side.
Her heart racing, Rohanne pivoted and managed to leap away from the throng of bodies without being caught up in the fight. She galloped back in the direction of the herd without thinking, fear fuelling her forward until she was a safe distance away. Only then did she slide to a halt, throwing snow up into the air and twisting around to look back at the scuffle she had left behind. With the mild snowstorm still in full force, the bodies of the fighting horses were indistinguishable, mere shadowy suggestions against the backdrop of white, and Rohanne could not tell who was delivering what blow. Eyes wide and nostrils fluttering with quick breaths, she waited and watched to see who would be successful.
ROHANNE
5; grullo; draft mutt; 16.0hh |