The dynamics of the desert herd seemed to have shifted over the last few months. Where once Harlequin was unfamiliar with the mares that made up their small herd, now she was able to recognize them by name and sight. Of all the mares of the Desert, it was Berit that she found herself drifting most often towards when the hot desert sun drove the herd to share what little shade could be found. The days had begun mostly with shared interest, a familiar outview of life together and the loyalty they shared with Cain. At what point that shared interest had grown into something more akin to friendship, Harlequin could not explain. She trusted Berit, trusted the older mare’s judgement and wisdom that proved day in and day out to be a valuable asset. Though she had already birthed Twinge, it was to Berit she looked to for guidance as the subtle signs of pregnancy once again began to settle upon her. Berit was the one that mothered more than just her own, it was Berit that had the mothering instinct that Harlequin could only ever dream of one day portraying even in the slightest bit. Most days, the found herself smiling warmly as the bay woman chided her colt’s for the rambunctious natures or listened intently to an elaborate story drummed up by midday boredom. But even as Harlequin found herself drifting closer and closer to Berit, she too found the mare’s black son her newest shadow.
There had been a time in her past, when Enoch’s growing interest would have irritated the usually solitary mare. However, his inquisitive nature and perhaps even her own encouraged mothering instinct had quickly displaced any unrest and Harlequin even found herself looking forward to his inquisitive questions and bright eyes.
Today, as with most, she found herself shaking the residue sleep from her skin as her muscles stretched taut beneath her baby swollen belly. Slender legs shift back and forth beneath her as the resounding crack of popping joints give her some reprieve from the tension she felt. A single ear flexs backwards as once more the dark shadow that was Enoch appears from around a jutting boulder. A wry smile curves across her ash dusted lips as Harlequin greets him with an inviting nicker. ”Here I was just thinking that you had decided to sleep in this morning.” she teases playfully, flicking her tail in invitation before starting down the well worn path of rock and sand. ”Let’s head to the northern border today. Perhaps we will catch a glimpse of those dune runners.”