Meadow

For the first part of his two years of life, chaos had been the dominant theme. One moment, he was shielded in the familiar embrace of the Cove; the next, a terrifying upheaval had ejected them from their world. He'd followed his mother through the churning waters, his heart a frantic drum against his ribs, a cold dread clinging to his belly as they landed on alien sands. The ground felt deceptive and shifting beneath his young hooves as he gazed at the imposing, unknown figure his mother declared to be his father. Shock, paralyzing dread, and an unexpected spark of excitement surged through the colt. Yet, as the initial flood of emotion subsided, he found himself drawn to the stallion, accepting his father with a nuzzle of curiosity and relief.

Life now, however, was far more predictable. His hooves had worn familiar paths into the shores, and the dense jungle embraced the spotted young stallion, a home he had fully adapted to.

But today, he ventured beyond the familiar, onto the crossing. The air here was crisp and cool against his skin, carrying exciting, strange scents. His ears twitched with curiosity as he traversed beneath trees ablaze with brilliant oranges and crimsons. The sensation reminded him of Tinuvel's mornings as a foal. A fond smile touched his lips, his thoughts drifting to those distant shores, to the brisk winds and the mountains that scraped the heavens, their peaks crisp and white with snow against a greying sky.

Lost in this vivid imagining, he didn't see the white-splashed girl until he nearly collided with her. He slid to a shy halt, eyes wide, mouth agape. "Oh! I'm so sorry!" the apology burst from his lips, his brilliant, icy gaze widening further as it settled on her face. A shy smile tugged at his mouth. "I didn't see you..." he stammered, "I mean, I should have seen you, if I'd been paying attention to where I was going.""