Falls

“W-wait! Oh - Calfuray!”

With a mutter under her breath, the golden palomino filly turned to look behind at her reluctant companion. “Just c’mon, would you? Ma won’t be gone forever, and we gotta make sure we’re home before she is,” Calfuray said vehemently. The reason why went without saying - Kolfinna was such a gentle soul and disappointing her was the last thing either of them wanted to do.

But the truth was, there was only so much exploring that could be done by two spirited little fillies who’d been forbidden from venturing up the treacherous slopes of the Peak.

“But I just - I don’t understand why we’ve gotta walk so far,” the paler girl said with a breathy sigh once she’d finally caught up to her sister. She squealed and ducked, her wispy forelock obscuring her vision as Calfuray lunged playfully at her, snapping at a strand of mane. “Hey, not so fast,” she cried and took off after the retreating palomino filly, their peals of childish laughter mingling in a sweet melody.

Calfuray pulled ahead, darting this way and that as she sought to stay beyond the reach of her pursuer. “Can’t catch me, Kalanthia!” she taunted, only to skid to a halt when she realised her sister had fallen back. With a snort, Calfuray turned in a restless circle, ears pricked forwards and mind already plotting as to how to convince Kalanthia to venture just a little further. “Not scared, are you?”

That hit the mark, just as Calfuray hoped it would.

All the protests that had risen up inside Kalanthia withered on her tongue. Suddenly it didn’t matter that this was the border Kolfinna had told them never to cross alone. If she thought about it, technically… They weren’t alone, because they had each other. “Nuh-uh!” she retorted, and resumed her chase, snapping at her sister’s heels.

And thus began their first foray into rebellion, running reckless and wild along the banks of a winding river, stopping short at the roaring crest of one of the smaller waterfalls, staring down the rippling veil of water with wide eyes and hearts that trembled with exhilaration. They stood shoulder to shoulder, naive to the world (for all that Kolfinna had gently tried to prepare them), but bold and reckless enough to believe that, whatever came their way, they could face it together.