Emotions play such wild games with the appetite. Rowena makes dramatic transitions from nearly starving herself to frantic overindulgence. Right now she's in the process of frantically overindulging. The black mare tears thick mouthfuls of grass up by the roots and chews as if to crush her pain between her teeth.
Even as the sun sinks below the tree line, the mindless urgency of her actions does not relent. She consumes everything, even clumps of damp, sandy earth tangled amongst dense root balls, but it does not have the desired effect. Eating doesn't make the black mare feel any better. If anything, it's making her feel worse.
At first the pain is purely emotional, but soon it becomes all too physical.
When the stranger enters the meadow, Rowena is nothing but a dark silhouette, standing very still. She sees the stranger, but through her racing heart and labored breathing, it is her stomach that breaks the ice. It grumbles very loudly, and with it comes a wave of pain that nearly buckles the mare's knees.
She turns to leave, not wanting to disturb this stranger's peace. Despite the war raging in her stomach, she can tell he has a lot on his mind. But before Rowena gets too far, her steps are halted by such intense discomfort that her vision spins, and she staggers sideways. Catching herself, she stands still for a moment. Her breath comes in great gulps, willing her upset stomach to settle.
