Meadow

Zharko’s dark head came up at the call from across the meadow, attention trained on the red stallion as he approached. He blinked in surprise as he noted darkness of his wet coat and the scent of seawater on his companion. It was no secret the two of them shared their companionship and still lived their separate lives, but Zharko realized he did not know what Cinnamon’s desires were, or what drove him to help a random young boy in the dead of winter. He hoped Cinnamon had found whatever he was looking for across the waters.

He waited patiently as the stallion approached, curious as to what news he would bring. A small grin flickered on Zharko’s lips at the shows of fatherly companionship. They were touches he never would have received from his own father, or even his mother. Harsh blows, heavy kicks, and sharp bites were all the love he had gotten in his first seasons of life. It still took him off balance to know this man, a stranger, had welcomed him so easily into his life. Winter. He answered easily, as if the season had been a physical creature covering the sweet grass beneath the decayed bodies of last year’s foliage.

The boy looked around Cinnamon’s body in the direction he came. He knew he needed to go looking for his brother. It had slipped his mind this meant needing to return to the sea. Stealy ears pinned back at the thought of the inevitable swim. I could swim now. he proclaimed sternly, convincing himself more than Cinnamon.

He was curious to know what other islands were like and hopeful that his brother had found solid footing on any of them. Leaving his grass he stepped in the direction Cinnamon had come from, assuming they were going to leave sooner rather than later since the stallion seemed to have been on this mission for a while. What is Tinuvel like? And Liland? Real questions burned in the breast of the boy. Not many stallions would take kindly to having another male step hoof on their land, fewer would chance a potentially traitorous colt. It would not take long for anyone to notice Zeru’s inability to hear. The chance of raising him to be an extra source of protection was slim. Still, there was a chance this man might have seen a body, or heard a call that could send him in a direction.