Grace had tucked herself away, realizing that morning couldn’t come soon enough. On and off she would shudder, she would tremble, with the ebb and flow of the winds. Why had she come? There was some feeling of grand adventure in her, but was this the way to start? Leaving home had been ill advised. Grace curses herself for the mistake. She would always be much harder on herself than necessary, than was fair.
Maybe it’s because she doesn’t feel she deserves it. Why would she deserve fairness for anything short of perfect? Perfect was the enemy of good, she’d remind herself, but that wasn’t enough. She had to be perfect. Good wasn’t good enough. A knot formed in her stomach. Was it her stomach? Was it her throat? Her mind is moving quickly, but she feels poorly. It’s the cold. Grace had the cold to blame… and herself.
A shadow moves across the ground, lost in her own mind. She’s haggard, even more weathered than Grace is. Cold, and night had come on so quickly. The light was very low, and Grace’s eyes were struggling to adjust. It would take a bit more time, but she could see enough. She could see predators, she could see the company that had… joined her? It seemed as the woman didn’t notice, not yet.
The stranger, she’s finally noticed. Grace is grateful, because she wouldn’t have known how to ask for her companionship. She peers out, into the twilight. There’s a certain relief to the her as she answers the whistle with a soft whicker of her own. Grace is grateful. At least she wouldn’t be on her own tonight. Company in the cold. With a patent softness, she peers at the dark mare.
“Please, please come in.” She steps to the side, making space for the other woman. “I was afraid I’d freeze, out here alone all night.” The words come with a wistful tone, Grace’s voice soft. She can smell blood, and her brow furrows with concern. “Are you injured? Do you need help?” While she didn’t want to intrude, she was also concerned.
14.2 hh. classic champagne leopard. 4. knabstrupper x saddlebred.
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