she was furious. she had fought for her freedom from the lagoon and hoped to be received by kunzak in a much different manner. of course there was an obvious moment, a breath of time, where it seemed like both of their eyes softened and relief washed over them to be together again. but when faced with a discussion of their future and how things might need to change… it all went in a much different direction than she had hoped. Božena didn’t want..or need, really, a protector. she needed something else. something that so far, kunzak seemed unwilling to be…she longed for an equal. someone who didn’t have to look to her for orders or suggestions.. someone who could respect the fact that she needed to protect them as much as they felt the need to protect her. he had left, eventually, saying that he needed space. time. she felt the same. the black mare spent days recovering from the hard fought battle with cullen for her freedom, days relaxing trying to repair her emotional state. without much success. her refuge, that high spot sequestered along the trail to very top of the peak was becoming less a refuge and more a hermits cave and finally, one day, she realized she needed a break. despite the lateness of the afternoon, she decided it was as good a time as any. the massive black mare was not afraid of the dark. she felt freed, clattering down the mountainside, stones tumbling behind her in a wake… her large heavy hooves thwacked heartily against the shale and she didn’t waste her time being slow or cautious. the hair had begun to grow back along her cheek and across the various spots where the lagoon boss had scraped it raw and she felt as hale as she ever had thanks to the lush summer grass that grew abundantly on the mountainside. for the first time in days the stoic mare lets kune slip from the forefront of her mind and revels in the powerful feeling of being in control of herself. it is evening by the time Božena finds herself in the meadow. she knows it is safer here than the common, not that she is particularly worried about her safety…and as close as she cares to venture toward the lagoon. the coolness of night slips over her and feels like balm to her soul. the tall inky dark mare grazes quietly, enjoying the peace, a tumble of black mane falling that slips down or a moment she thinks she could disappear here…not worrying about kunzak or the war or the future of the peak and it’s inhabitants. what would be like to just.. exist? the towering black mare isn’t sure how she missed the massive lightly colored figure looming across the meadow in the twilight but when she looks up, there he is. there is something vaguely familiar about him but she can’t seem to place it. had she met him somewhere? it irritates her, the feeling that she should remember..but she is too proud to go ask. so nonchalantly as possible, which is difficult for as conspicuous a creature she was and with her size, she grazes closer, closing a bit of the distance between them to see if a better view would refresh her memory. |