enigma

Saffron’s shadow was never that far behind. The glum old mare seemed to constantly try to find more and more creative ways to ditch her, but Enigma was great at navigation and even better at happening upon the old mare. This time, Saffron had swam across the ocean (it seemed!) to try and escape her, and while that might not be the only reason the roan had returned to the Isles, it was the only reason Enigma could think of that made sense.

Saffron spoke of the Isles rarely with pleasure in her voice. Most of the time, it just seemed painful. Enigma, only three, did not understand the trials of life just yet. But maybe that was because Saffron had sheltered her from it. The only pain she could vaguely remember was losing her family herd… but the old bay roan mare had been there to comfort her and give her all the tools she needed to survive.

Anyway, the water was cold and the wind colder as Enigma lingered on the shore for a few moments, trying to tease Saffron’s scent out of the wind. Her ears were like mobile satellites, straining to hear that familiar, rusty voice. Instead, she heard a stallion. But she also smelled her not-mother.

With a few extravagant and bounding strides that tore her from the surf like some sort of cannonball, Enigma rocketed her way to the tree-cave. Her entrance was loud and stupid, but all too expected from a youngster who missed her only friend in the world. Still, she’d learned long ago not to crowd the ancient mare (or anyone else for that matter) and she slid to an energetic halt, bobbing her head up and down with a pleased expression on her face.

“Found you, Saffron! Why did you leave so fast,’ she questioned, her blue eyes rolling to the stallion and a nod was offered--nothing more. He was not as important as her not-mother, after all!

space, the final frontier.