Falls

The sun warmed Arzela’s back as she shook the seawater out of her two-toned fur, lanky legs splayed in the sand. Sea-blue eyes looked curiously out from her white face at the island before her. She couldn’t remember this place at all, though she knew she had been here as a very young foal. She had vague memories of a dense jungle, and the smell of humid air meeting dark soil.

But this didn’t look like the forest of her memories. There were trees, but the space between them was open and dry, and the ground was lined with soft grass and pine needles. She climbed up from the sandy shore and into the shade, delicate nostrils flaring to pull in the strange new scents. Would she find her father here? Her brother?

Above her, the Peak loomed threatening into the clear sky. She wondered if anyone ever climbed up there, and if it might be fun to try it herself. For a moment, her hooves steered themselves toward the dark stone. The cliff face above her seemed to draw her in, tugging at her as though she were on a leash. She had never seen a mountain before, but as she continued on, she felt like she was getting no closer, and the mountain just kept getting larger. Intimidation began to war with her curiosity, and by the time she reached even the edge of its shadow, Arzela stopped.

Her dark ears twisted around uncertainly, and she craned her slender neck to try and see the top, but at this angle she couldn’t.

Coward, she told herself as she turned away. But soon enough, her curiosity was reignited by the sound of rushing water, and she forgot about her cowardice.

The sound of the Falls lead her to a clearing in the trees, and beneath her hooves the ground turned stony and sloped downward. At the sight of the water tumbling down the slope, Arzela squealed in delight. She had never seen a waterfall before, and she crow-hopped her way excitedly to the edge of the churning pool and thrust her muzzle into it. It was frigid, and she loved it. The painted filly reared up and slammed her small hooves down into the frothing water, then began pawing at it, relishing the spray that settled on her body. In no time, she was drenched again.