PERSEPHONE

Persephone could hardly hear Warsaw’s words over the adrenaline pumping through her body. If she had, she might have spat some clever, venomous retort – or simply to go fuck himself – but she was too busy, too distracted by the thrill of the anger singing in her blood. She heard nothing else – saw nothing else, save an enemy in front of her and an ally at her side.

Warsaw threw another snap in Tarek’s direction, before he was on Persephone again, this time clearly taking a different angle. Again, if she had had the wherewithal to think about it, she might have been offended, and disgusted by his intentions, but as it was she had only her instincts about her. His teeth nipped the skin on her rump as he approached, and she squealed in both pain and anger. She saw him lifting his weight, and felt his hooves scrape her skin as he reached for her hips. Instinctively, she kicked out with her hind legs, a fierce buck to warn him off before he could find purchase, and span her tail end away from him as fast as she could.

If he wanted to mount her, he would have her hooves in his underbelly and risk damaging the very equipment he so wished to put to use.

Before she could blink as she finished whirling around, however, she saw Tarek’s body forced suddenly between her and her attacker. Later, when she looked back on this moment, she would feel her heart swell with gratitude.

Her and Tarek had never been close friends. Persephone had harboured a warm acquaintanceship with him since the start, as a friend and relative of Evren’s, and a loyal Forest member, but they didn’t spend a lot of time together. They didn’t while away the nights talking, or spend days alone in each other’s company, yet here they were – fighting alongside each other, defending each other’s bodies with their own.

Her dark eyes fixed on Warsaw once more. Perhaps he had had many small victories, but right now he was alone. Yes, he had cronies causing trouble in the Forest amongst their various, chaotic groups, but right now, he was alone. There was nobody throwing themselves in front of him, trying to protect him.

Invigorated, Persephone took up a place at Tarek’s side again, ready to lunge for Warsaw again or to intercept an attack at the next opening.

all of your demons will wither away

mixed, bay varnish roan, 14.3hh