Meadow

I'm not alone. The thought gave her a jolt as see sucked in a breath of cool air between sips. Her body tensed, though not from fear. Crimson eyes skittered around the water until she spied a dark form not far away. She took another long draw of water before she lifted her head to see the figure more clearly. Water dripped from her lips and chin, icy and cold and entirely ignored. How long would it take before her noticed her appearance her bid her away? She almost wondered if he simply hadn't seen her until she was making direct eye contact and caught the puff of air that he'd sent her way. She shivered, whether from the chill in the air or the fact that he'd seen her and wasn't immediately repulsed. After all, she was the spitting image of her father and her pale skin and blood-tinted eyes were enough to drive anyone who'd so much as heard of him away. She hadn't even realized she'd been holding her breath until she needed to drag fresh air into her empty lungs.

She took a tentative step toward him, uncertain of whether he'd welcome her approach or not. When was the last time she'd been this close to another of her kind? She couldn't quite remember. Since her herd had abandoned her, she'd only come across stragglers or wandering bands and most gave her a wide berth thanks to the superstitions surrounding her lineage. She couldn't blame them, but it certainly hadn't given her any opportunities to learn how to socialize. She cast a glance over her shoulder, peering back to lands behind her. Was there a good escape route if he decided her company was unwanted a gave chase? Her muscles still ached from the long swim, so uncertainty over her ability to escape any unforeseen danger filled her mind with doubt. She turned her gaze back to the stallion and took a few steps forward, feigning confidence like a bad actor. This was going to go very poorly and it would all be her fault. What did she do? What should she say? When was the last time she'd even used her own voice? She ambled through the water, closer was probably proper and her heart was a tiny hammer in her chest, pounding rhythmically in her ears and reminding her that she was little more than a fool.

She blinked and offered him a small smile, chiding herself for making such a stupid decision in approaching him in the first place. She peered at him for another breath or two before she finally made an attempt to say anything. Her voice was soft and airy, but also so very unused to any sort of activity. "I-" She began nervously. "I'm not like him. I promise." Why was that all she could think to say? Because it was the reason she'd lived her entire life in solitude. People stayed away and avoided any interaction or association because they feared she would be just like her father. After all, as far as anyone knew she was the only child he'd left behind and if he was a demon, so too was she... Right? For, if demons ever did exist, her father was one. She smiled hopefully; dumbly. Feeling so very out of place and so very prepared to tuck tail and run like the coward she'd learned to be over the years. Darkness and solitude meant safety. For just as there were those who stayed away for fear, there were those who'd made sport of hunting the spawn of the supposed demon who'd terrorized their lands. The question was, which category did this dark stallion fall into?

tagged; Peyote (Still a bit rusty, so forgive any mistakes XD)