Even the tallest trees are rooted deep in the earth; Posted on March 1, 2020 at 06:56:53 PM by Bran
There was a sense of camaraderie now, which drew the colt of cinnamon hues to his half-brother. Though they had been separated for most of their young lives, Nattergal borne away by the jungle wolf with his mother and sister in youth and Bran remained with mother first in the desert and then the ridge. One thing that he did know, he felt the pull, the common hardness that grew in his deep auburn gaze, the ice that began to seal the once curious young foal away and turn him into a hardened young stallion. At first Bran had allowed himself to wallow in the despair and anguish of losing mother. Father never told him why, never even dared to bother to issue him a second glance. Still the memory etched itself in his brain, him a young foal full of curiosity and excitement, exploring with wild wonder the new island of ice and snow that father had ushered them to. It was the raised voices that first alerted him to trouble, but he had seen mother’s displeasure in father’s actions before and truthfully exploring with Rayna had been more exciting. It was only when mother’s raised voice turned into a down right scream had he been made aware something might be truly wrong. He had turned then, the squirrel the foals had been bouncing after utterly forgotten in the sudden rush of adrenaline. Still he remembered the moments as if it were yesterday, watching as mother struggled against the broad Liland as the pale stallion forced her through the turbulent waters away from him. He remembered the biting cold, the pleading cries in his voice as he watched until both forms disappeared from view. He had felt hope then… a hope that warmed his shivering form… a hope that was quickly snuffed out without so much as an ember left behind. Liland had returned alone. His eyes had been pleading then, trying desperately to meet those of his father but the gray stallion had hardly spared him a sideways glance. It had been Sabela who nurtured him, the gentle mare who tugged him to her side and offered warm words of reassurance that this too would pass.
But it did not.
Mother was gone. Sabela was gone. Only Liland remained. And so the pain and anger and hatred began to build.
The trip to Luthien to see mother had done nothing but add fuel to the slow burning fire that eat away at his soul. Liland had been so flippant, so careless and demanding all in the same moment. It was not until Sabela’s death that he had been allowed to leave, at father’s side of course. Even then the pale stallion had not dared to utter a single word instead his features remained grim and forward. Bran had demanded answers that day on the Prairie, and Liland had offered them as though they weighed nothing. He had turned then, making sure to tell Bran that he was still expected to return home. But home was not the Bay. Quite frankly he was not sure he knew where home was anymore. While mother seemed to have settled easily enough into the Prairie, even invited him to stay despite father’s demand that he return home… he could not shake the unease he felt there. It was too open, too bright and mother looked too happy. It was not that he was unhappy about it, he had enjoyed meeting his new sister… but her adoration of Shamwari was hard to take in. It hurt and he could not truly explain why.
The mumble of Nattergal’s reply is met with a solemn nod. He had heard the same. Well, been advised that by others. Father had never really spared him a second glance save for those few moments on the Prairie. Even then Liland made it seem as though he were doing Bran a favor by allowing him and Larka a few moments together. How generous. Unbidden a hard snort presses past his lips as the graying colt gives his thick mane a shake. No. Liland did not deserve it. Rayna could see through the smoke and feel pity for their sire all she wanted but no he did not feel the least bit of sympathy for him. The cream colt’s shaking head is given a toss, intense silver blue gaze twinkling with excitement. "What exactly did you have in mind dear brother?" he inquires, his words dragging a bit as curiosity began to root itself deep in the young colt's skin. Replies: