Meadow

Thoughts of home bring her back to the main island once again. Not the home that she had made with her mother and siblings in the Hills of Salem, but of the home that she had once known and loved. Her youth had been spent here, wandering the forests and hills, splashing through the creeks and racing up the granite lowlands of the peak. For the most part Raksha had been taught to avoid the Lagoon as though it were tainted ground. Mother despised those men that tried to oppress her and tame her spirit. Raksha had been old enough not to also find herself a captive, but her dislike for the bachelor herd grew each time that she found herself comforting Warduna from nightmares.

Fall was upon the islands in full swing now. Deep inside, Raksha felt the first flickering of hormones rising, calling her to roam where usually she would have been content to remain behind and guard the little slice of peace that she had found in the Hills. So far from the rest of the islands, Raksha felt that no longer did she have to worry about repercussions from the rest of the world. At least she could be safe. At least Warduna would be safe.

However there was no change in seasons as obvious on Salem as it was here on the main island. Bright silver blue eyes blink against the bright sunlight as a soft smile curves across her lips. Crisp zephyrs blow over her, teasing the ends of her chocolate colored mane. Slender legs wade gracefully through the knee high yellow green grasses of the meadow, trailing after the brown and gray grasshoppers that leapt to avoid her hard hooves. Dark tipped ears tilt back and forth as she approaches the small stream that wound its way through the meadows, providing a refreshing drink for any of the residents that choose to make this place a permanent resident. She knew she was supposed to be here recruiting for the Hills, mother would probably be livid if she didn't return this time with someone in tow but Raksha simply could not pass up the temptation of fresh cold water. Salem had its own sources of drinkable water but none of them were nearly as crisp or cool on her throat.

Keen eyes scan the meadow around her, eyeing the few strangers that joined her a bit further downstream caught up in their own conversation. Raksha was not one to intrude. With a heavy sigh she drops her finely dished muzzle to the water’s surface and drank deeply of the cool waters, imagining the falls not far from here where the waters cut a path towards. Perhaps her reminiscing might demand a visit there? A smile curves across her lips Tension evaporates from her body as for the first time in a while, Raksha allows herself to relax in the peace and serenity of solitude. She was not foolish enough to imagine it would last for much longer, but she was also not the type to not take advantage of it while she could.