"andhere mein vah ek raasta talaashatee hai"
in darkness she finds her way
The emotion had been too much for Vihaan. Everglow had been a comforting presence at her side, and Vihaan had appreciated the comforting gestures the blind mare had bestowed upon her. But, shortly after explaining what had happened, the subdued dunalino mare had quietly excused herself, seeking solace in the isolation of a place she had faded memories of. Her life had very quickly become so much messier than she’d ever thought it would, and she’d need time to put the pieces where they belonged. Darshan had joined her after some time, and later, Vihaan had sought Everglow’s company again. The day passed in a blur, and the dunalino allowed the hours to wash over her. In the evening, it was at her father’s side that she settled, with her mother not far. Vihaan gratefully slipped into a deep sleep, one that was void of terror.
Come dawn, she awoke before the others, and, after contemplating the near future for some minutes, quietly, the young mare left the slumbering herd and stopped at a distance to look back at them. Her family was at peace, and this was how she wanted to remember them. So it was that Vihaan, unknowingly following in her mother’s footsteps, vanished into the dusky light of dawn, unseen, leaving behind only a set of hoofprints that would wash away with the next tide. In many ways she was like her mother, and to the pale mare, at least, Vihaan’s disappearance would not come as a surprise. Indeed, there had been at least one witness to Vihaan’s departure – Darshan standing among the reeds, her curved ears dropping as she watched the ocean bear her daughter away.
Vihaan had a calling, and though it was not one she had chosen, it called her still the same, strong and dark, and she could not turn aside from it.
The dunalino mare headed straight for the shore of the Crossing, a short swim. It would have been quicker to cut south across the sea, but the water was cold with the coming of winter, and Vihaan did not want to risk a chill entering her bones. So she meandered along the coastline of the Crossing, past the falls where she had sought refuge with Everglow after parting ways with the stallions. She wandered past the meadow, where she had faced Cain and held her ground and eventually given up a part of herself – something she still wasn’t sure she’d been ready for. Nothing could be done about it now, however. Finally, Vihaan found herself lingering upon the sandy beach of the Commons, where she and her mother had rested at, only days ago. “Mujhe maaf karado.” The words were whispered to the wind, not meant for any, except the family she’d left behind. Darshan, her mother. Shamwari, her father. And Everglow… Please forgive me.
Finally, a short time after noon, Vihaan pulled herself onto the golden, sandy shores of the desert. The water was cold, and so, despite the warmth of the sun shining down on her from a great distance, Vihaan found herself trembling uncontrollably. It was with caution that she made her way further inland. Mixed emotions fought one another inside her, leaving her in turmoil. Fear and trepidation. Uncertainty. And the slightest glimmer of hope – flickering like a candle flame in the wind. She was still deeply confused by the gentleness only she had seen, as though Cain had waited until they were alone to reveal this softer side of him, like it was a secret. Still, the stallion had proved to be fierce, and Vihaan was sick with anxiety trying to guess what she would see when she’d finally find him.
The churned up sand, scent of strangers and drops of blood on the sand did nothing to quell the dunalino mare’s uncertainty. And so, when she finally crested a small dune, and laid eyes upon a hauntingly familiar figure in the distance, her heart swelled with relief that she may end up regretting. But, whatever relief she felt was short lived. The stallion before her was in a bad way, though, given that he was still here, he had prevailed whoever, or whatever had come up against him. Vihaan remained where she was, eyes widening as he reared and let loose a call, proclaiming victory. He moved off to a nearby oasis, and after a moment of hesitation, Vihaan trailed along after him.
Stopping a few paces away, Vihaan waited until Cain had slaked his thirst, before she spoke, raising her head a little and allowing her guarded gaze to settle on his face. The sun shone down upon them both, casting a gentle glow about the mare as the light reflected off her still-damp golden coat. “Cain?” In the name she spoke there seemed many unanswered questions. What had happened? Would he acknowledge that she had kept her word by returning before two days had past? And strangely… Was he okay?
Vihaan
the persistent
|