The world was cold and harsh compared to the existence she had lived. For so long she had been wrapped in her sibling’s embrace, warm and at peace. There had been muffles of speech that passed through the skins and the membranes that encased her. There had been a steady beat, hearts that raced and calmed, ebbed and flowed. There had been times she felt the quicken of excitement, a rush of something else that poured into her growing body. There had been times of ease, a calm contentment and a hum that soothed that wild beat. As she grew the beats came quicker more frequently, but they did not pulse with the other feeling that had brought her growing soul a sense of comfort. This was a beat of fear twined with loathing. She felt the change in her very being and tried to twitch with protest. Whether she willed it or not, desired it or not, knew what was about to happen or if it was the mystery of life, she felt the body shift around her. Before she could decide if this is what she wanted she felt herself pull away from her sister and into the world cold cold world.

Eyes pressed closed, she was still blinded by the light. Her first breath was suffocating with a layer of something over her face. This was right at all. Even worse, the essence that had been beside her was not there. She flailed and squeaked in protest at this injustice until at last she felt a softness against her face and her skin. Relieved, she lifted her still blinking eyes to receive this care and had to adjust to what she was feeling. The constant thrum of her mother’s heartbeat was absent from the pulse of her body. Replaced only by her own beating heart. Still, as Siobhan’s soft lips passed over her damp skin, she felt that feeling that had been there in the beginning of her formation. She felt nothing but the love she had been born from.

Racing with the fleeting thoughts of one who did not yet know how to control her impulses and could not put words to what raced through her mind, she tossed her head and called. The essence that had been beside her, her sister, was not pressed against her. Panicked, she flailed and fell, her head falling onto the body that had also just joined the world. This was what she was looking for. She breathed in peace again, comforted that the essence at least was still with her and they would face this blinding cold world together. Again, the soft lips pressed against her and whispered words to her. Naenia She felt as though this were true, and it was right. It was what her mother had placed on her brow. With a heavy sigh, she felt as though there were more to do. Without so much protest, she carefully made her way to her feet. There were a few stumbling tries, her trying to prevent herself from falling on her sister before at last she was steady on her own four hooves. She huffed a small sigh of tired relief before gingerly moving to her mother’s side. As she pressed herself against Siobhan’s red skin, she felt the first feelings of physical warmth since she had been brought into the world. At last, this was what she had been looking for and the peace settled over her again.

A charge raced through Siobhan, and Naenia was pulled from what could have become a slight slumber. Amber eyes looked up at Siobhan and then in the direction in question. Unsure, the filly turned to match her mother’s gaze, flattened her ears, and glared.