PERSEPHONE

Persephone heard the sounds of someone approaching her secluded spot – twigs snapping under-hoof, leaves rustling against each other. Although she knew, logically, that the chances of anyone from outside the herd finding her here so quickly were very slim, she couldn’t help the prickle of fear that flew momentarily up her spine.

Persephone had felt the urge to protect others before – she had always been protective of her herd here in the Forest, and even more so of her closest friends, but this felt different. This was a visceral, instinctive reaction that set her every nerve alight – and in that moment, she knew what motherhood felt like.

Whatever came through those trees, she would have thrown herself in front of it in a heartbeat.

But there was no need for concern. Persephone caught Evren’s scent in the air just before she appeared from the shadows, and instantly her whole body relaxed. Her own face split into a wide smile, mirroring Evren’s as she met her companion’s gaze.

“Evren,” she murmured in greeting with a bob of her head.

Her dark eyes turned towards her new-born daughter, tucked closely beside her forelegs. The filly’s dark eyes, like looking into a mirror, were wide and trained on the stranger that had just entered her world for the first time. The first living creature she had seen after her mother. She was fascinated, and could only take her eyes off Evren long enough to shoot a questioning glance at her mother.

Persephone returned her attention to Evren with a small chuckle.

“She really is. I’m great – tired, but… great,” she replied, feeling a strange sense of connection with her friend as she looked at her.

She paused a moment, then glanced back down at her daughter.

“Sabran, this is Evren,” she explained softly, before turning her eyes back to Evren. “Evren, this is Sabran.”

Sabran looked between her mother and her friend again. Words were not something she had learnt yet, but she mustered a curious little squeak at the stranger.

all of your demons will wither away

mixed, bay varnish roan, 14.3hh