Falls

done a lot of things wrong; loving you being one

Hollis doesn’t really understand what has happened. She’s been in the Peak for many seasons now, but always carefully kept herself away from the others. She’s stayed quiet, stayed far out of politics, away from any risk of interacting with the stallions she knows the others welcome. So when time for voting comes, she does not feel as if she has the right to participate. And then…then no one votes, the silence in the proceedings deafening. Oswin leaves them, abdicates her post as promised and suddenly they are without a shield. Without her guidance, without a leader to bind them together.

What does that mean, for the Peak herd? She still has no idea; things are so strange, so foreign in these isles that Hollis doesn’t grasp the concept exactly. Have they no safe haven at all, then? Are they chattel once more, free to be dragged about on the whims of a man? She’s so lost in her thoughts that, for the first time since giving over to the mercy of the sea, she leaves the Peak. She isn’t entirely familiar with where she winds up, but it’s a lovely open field and in the distance a great waterfall.

Tucked in the meager shelter of the leafless trees, Hollis aches to cross the frosted field, steps foot in the icy waters so close. But to leave the safety, to be visible…she doesn’t know if she’s ready for it. Behind her, a crow cries out it’s anger and the piercing noise through the silence startles her enough that she takes a few steps forward before she freezes. No one rushes at her, no one tries to bite her or drag her off so…maybe this is a safe enough place? Maybe just a few minutes seeing the waterfall won’t be the end of her.

Tentatively, Hollis strikes out and finally comes to a stop at the edge of the water. The spray is beautiful in the light, millions of rainbow droplets of water in the air, the cold mist settling on her coat and icing over, even as her breath freezes in gusts.

Hollis glances around one last time, and seeing no danger, lets herself take it in - the roaring of the falls, the awe and beauty of the sight before her. And the change from the Peak, no more treacherous mountain passes or miserable, windy valleys. For a moment, she feels as she once did - alive, free, like there is something in the world beyond just fear.