In the darkness of the shadows rested a monster. The vile poisonous air throbbed around him as if it were a living, breathing thing; growing stronger with every second that passed when his light could not be found. The chaos that swirled in the inky depths fanned the flames of rage that brought on insanity, causing a wicked smile to curl the beast’s ebony lips. Lupine eyes glowed with excitement as they peered out at the poor victim ahead. Closer he prowled, moving like a wraith in a nightmare. It was only as muscle curled beneath flesh, his heart hammering with exhilaration, that she began to sing.
Ruger froze; his breath catching as his ears were brought free from his tangled white mane to strain forward. That voice, that song; it was like a whisper of a dream he had once had. For all the times he had come here seeking it, the stallion never expected for her to actually be here. Blood rushed through his veins so hard that the roar filled his ears and he began to quiver all over. This couldn’t be real; not now, not when he had waited so long for her only to ever be just that, a dream.
Legs moving on their own accord, Ruger stepped free of the shadows into the moon’s silvery light. But unlike the fairytale dreams, the stallion did not look like the knight in shining armor. His long mane and tail were knotted and unkept, while his black and white flesh scarred with new and old wounds. Dried blood: both his and of his enemies, still lingered on his skin from the war. Ruger looked every bit of the monster he had been raised to be.
“Zimri”
Her name whispered like a prayer, Ruger stared the mare like she was a goddess materialized before him.