Cerosi appreciated that she never felt pressure to speak around Cain. They walked in comfortable silence, the night air a soothing balm before the heat of the daytime. Somewhere on the horizon, the sun sent pale light across the sky before its own appearance. Cerosi watched the colorless light, knowing it would soon burst into pinks and oranges as dawn washed over them.
They remained silent as Cerosi scraped her teeth affectionately over Cain’s withers, but eventually he broke the silence. The silver mare pulled away, though not far. She remained close enough to feel the heat from Cain’s skin.
“Oh, they listen as well as any foal listens, when they want to,” she said with mock exasperation, the words softened by a small smile.
“And I’m fine, of course.” She returned to scratching Cain’s shoulders, moving down his spine. She was not used to expressing affection, and this was the one way she was most comfortable in telling Cain her feelings. She had long since let go of the fear that he might punish her for seeking his attention this way.
“I hope they haven’t been too under your hooves lately. I think they were really shaken up by those dogs,” she continued.
“How have you been?”
It was a careful question. She wasn’t usually the type to pry, or to worry much over others, but she cared about Cain and hoped he knew that she wasn’t as distant as she sometimes seemed.
Cerosi
mare // silver grulla rabicano // 15hh // 5
