I’ll keep the door open
in case you come home
Though he buries it deeply beneath routine and the changing of the seasons, the loss of Kohelet has left a gaping wound in Fell. He tries not to wonder where she is, or with whom she seeks company. He tries not to wonder if she is okay. He tries not to wonder how things might have gone differently, because the truth is that Fell does not believe things could have gone differently. In a sickening, infuriating way, there is a sense of… relief, as though the mystery shrouding him from Kohelet in his silence was less of a veil and more of a stone beneath the waves: unstoppably worn away.
There was simply no way Kohelet could have perceived him as good for an indefinite length of time. Fell could not tell her, nor lie to her; he had no control over when or if she saw through the silence. He could only watch it happen.
And now it was over.
Mostly, he can busy himself and push her from his mind with leadership responsibilities, but not today. The Bay is quiet. Some foals have just been born, others are nearing their time, and no one has the patience for Fell’s hovering presence. He steals away in the early morning hours, taking to the sea to get out of the herd’s hair.
The Crossing is quiet when he arrives. No one wants to foal out in the open, so stallions and mares alike are scarce in the Common. Fell walks along the beach, the warm spring breeze lifting the drying ends of his sodden mane and tail, until he reaches the place where the river rushes into the sea. The land here is open, scoured by branching streams and creeks from the main body of the river as it shatters on impact with the sand and ocean. Fell’s eyes are at once drawn to the only other figure here: a pale-maned dun stallion, strangely familiar, facing away.
The one-eared stallion is curious, but can’t call out, and the other male doesn’t seem to notice him or hear him approach over the rushing of the estuary. He circles around, splashing through a shallow stream to come around to where the pale-maned stallion can see him, and bobs his head with a silent, questioning nicker.
FELL
stallion. 16hh. black. marwari x. Rougaru x visurix.
