The heavy boned mare stood upon the shore, gazing out over the place that had once been a part of her home. Soft tendrils of steam rose from her nostrils and slick sides into the crisp autumn air. A flick of a golden ear sent a few drops of sea water flinging away; a toss of her head and neck threw a spew of mist overhead.
Olive's memories of this place were a blur; it had been half a lifetime since she'd left, after all. Closing her eyes, she tried to conjure an image of being here with her mother. Vaguely, she could picture following the white mare past certain landmarks. The mountain was of course unforgettable. But had there always been the sound of running water that she heard now?
Curiosity drew her large hooves into motion. They thudded dully over the frosty remnants of grass as she strode further inland. Though she had a destination in mind, she stayed vigilantly aware of her surroundings. Silver had taught her daughter that it wasn't always wise to let one's guard down, and Olive had taken this caution to an extreme that perhaps her mother would chide her for. Still, it had kept her safe in life thus far. But here you are, all alone. Is safety worth that?
Ducking her blazed face to push through a stand of evergreens, the mare finally caught sight of the waterfall and paused for a moment to observe it. Already she could see that the edges of the pool had a thin layer of ice. Closer to where the water rushed down, of course, it was still churning, but she had a sense that it was only a matter of time before the whole thing froze over.
The buckskin and white mare leisurely approached the pool's edge and lowered her lips to its surface, closing her eyes with pleasure as the chilly water soothed her parched mouth. As soon as she let herself relax, she began to feel the uncomfortable prickle of eyes on her. Olive raised her head and glanced around, trying to maintain a relaxed demeanor. "You might as well show yourself, I know you're there."