shadows creep and want grows stronger
DEEPER THAN THE TRUTH
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Once upon a time, there had been a filly who believed that her father was invincible, that she would never be alone, and that the mighty mountains in the northland would always be her home. Darkness had come upon them, and it had taken everything from her, chased her from the valley, cast her into the angry sea.
As she struggled, within and without, to keep fighting, she saw that he was there beside her, the one she had loved above all else. He was in the water, and she cried his name until her voice was spent; her lungs aching and her throat raw. The currents were cruel, because no matter how she flailed through the cold water to reach him, it always pulled him away just before she could reach out and press her narrow muzzle against his salty skin.
There came a point when the last of her strength was spent. She was so small, and the waves that broke over her seemed in this moment as mighty as the mountains whose shadows she had lived in her entire life. Lightning flashed, and thunder clapped, leaving her blinded and deafened. She thrust her delicate head high, mouth gaping – to scream or draw breath, she didn’t know. But she couldn’t see him anymore, and her last thought as she felt the current pulling and the waves crashing down on her was that at least he might make it through the storm. My brother, my brother, I’m so sorry. I love you. I love you.
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She had never known such coldness. It seemed to sink right through her skin, so that her very bones seemed frozen. As she lay in the surf, the slight mare didn’t even have the strength to lift her head. It was torture, the compact sand beneath her washing away little by little, so that it felt like the ground was beginning to swallow her, and the waves relentlessly rushed by, waiting to bury her in a watery grave. With a burning throat, and stinging eyes, she could hardly speak, struggled to focus properly. She was numb, and as frightened as she had been tossed about in deep water, this was even worse. Drowning was better than a slow death.
A thought came to her, and she almost choked on the fear she felt rising from her chest, clawing up her raw throat, so that she winced in pain and a low moan escaped her salted lips. A traitor such as herself didn’t deserve the mercy of a quick and painless death. That was why the ocean had thrust her onto the shore. She deserved to suffer for all that she had done. Death wouldn’t come easy, or quickly, or quietly. It would make her wait, and just when she thought she’d break free, it would come back for her, washing over her, drawing the warmth from her body, keeping her trapped here, so far from her mountains and the one she loved with more than her whole heart.
- - - - - - - - -
The silver grulla mare didn’t know how long she had been here. Time had lost meaning to her. All she knew was that she was alone, and the chill that had entered refused to leave. Her breathing was uneven and for a few moments she was able to focus on that and try to steady herself. The sand beneath her felt cold like ice, and she tried to lift her head, but her will and strength had all but forsaken her. As the tide receded, she lay with her eyes closed, unmoving, save for the weak sobs that left her lungs aching and the shivers that shook her bruised and battered body.
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Dumah
I will wait for you |