Falls

Draco was still riding the high from his success in the Commons, his confidence bolstered to near untamable levels. The addition of Heart and Blackthorn to his herd spurred him on, driving him back to the Crossing after only a few days. He had lingered in the Commons again, hoping to have his attention snagged by some beautiful mare, but the pickings had become slim as autumn slowly drew to a close. Annoyance prickled at the edges of his mind as he turned his attention towards the Falls instead, not yet ready to return home empty handed.

Draco was trotting along the riverbank, dark hooves digging into pale sand, when a flash of movement ahead caught his attention. He stopped mid-stride, his gaze sliding towards the softly swaying fronds of a nearby willow, its branches hanging forlornly over the far edge of the pool. There he saw it again, a blur of blue and white behind the shifting sage curtain.

Curiosity piqued, Draco altered his course and made his way towards the willow. He gave little thought to what might wait within as he poked his dark head through the verdant shroud. There, in profile, he observed the figure of a mare, her smoky cobalt coat splashed in bright ivory, her delicately dished face downturned towards the pond's mirrored surface. The expression painted on her face was one of near destitution - from across the short distance between them Draco could see the way her azure eyes glimmered with moisture.

Despite her melancholy visage, Draco could not help but think her beautiful. She was just the kind of girl he was looking for.

"What's got you looking so glum?" he asked by way of greeting, his tone holding far too much levity for what was surely a somber moment for her. Though he kept his gaze fixed on her, Draco made no move to encroach further into the small sanctuary the splaying willow offered.