This winter had not been as difficult as the last four she and Mariael had weathered together. Year one brought about the abandonment of her mother when Maziel was still in need of milk. Year two brought the angry sea which swept up a rockface and snagged Maziel away, dumping her, disoriented, weak and frightened somewhere she didn’t recognize. Year three brought the disappearance of their father. Year four was loneliness.
This year they were surrounded. The herd milled about the hot springs and retreated into the caverns when the blizzard winds whipped ferociously and threw ice and sleet with such rage it stung the skin to be hit with it. The snow piled high and blotted out the night sky, leaving it a sheet of grey-white – not that Maziel minded, considering she’d been born without her sight. The thing which bothered her most was the way the wind howled, but this year tucked among so many warm bodies, Maziel had been able to focus on their breathing instead, or the low murmur of their conversations. It had made for a far more peaceful winter than she could ever recall.
Now that the weather was growing fairer and the herd was able to travel further than the small area they’d been stuck to all winter, Maziel was enjoying rummaging about in the leftover snow, searching for bits of grass to eat. She could feel the sun trying to reach through the lingering chill and lifted her head, pointing her face toward it with a smile.
I want to convince Kikka to come back with us.
Maziel’s ear twitched and she frowned in thought. Kikka? She knew that name. Zevulun had told her all about his adventure with a mare named Kikka. She remembered how animated he’d become and the change in his tone. He’d considered Kikka his friend and told Maziel he hoped to see her again… and soon.
“I’m sorry,” Maziel said in her soft way, turning toward the pair, “I tried not to eavesdrop, but did you say something about a mare named Kikka?” If she was told to mind her business, Maziel would have slipped away with a nod, agreeing it had been wrong of her to pry in the first place. But… “I’ve never met her, but she met my brother, Zevulun, and they became good friends. He’s been wanting to see her again and see if she found her brother.”
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