almost [H.OME]

[Forte!]

Mud drowned out the chestnut color of Kya's fur, drowned out the myriad scars there just below the surface. Here and there blood dripped through the cracked coating of filth, thick and oozing and dirty. Her neck was thin, mane and tail stringy, and eyes hollow as caverns. The breathing was labored and the gait uneven, shuffling. She had seen better days. Blink was dead, against all odds, killed by a rival stallion. She had been captured, held prisoner, and now she was pregnant by some filthy beast. Her belly hung heavy on thin bones. She was starving to death, but she did not stop to graze. She had to make it to the mouth of the cave, to the entrance of Mountain Springs. It was all she could think of. She didn't know why she had to return, but she did. The clouds above her head cackled thunder, and the first raindrops hit her coat, washing away the filth for the first time.

She made her slow way through the cave, every step a battle. The rain was in earnest now, and soon the caked mud was gone and the bleeding and ripped pelt showed through. She had made it, and breathed a sigh of relief before collapsing to her knees on the grass. Every movemnt sent pain through her very being, but she felt better now for being here. The apple orchard swayed in the wind, and before her snout one of the round and blood-red fruits fell from the sky. A gift from the gods. She ate it with relish, the first meal after months of starvation. She did not know how she had escaped that dark prison, did not know what Batty was doing or if he even still lived here. But she was home, and that was enough.

[Spitz]

Eyes watched the femme and he followed. Silently. She went into a cave. The femme knew where she was going. He waited a while before following her. His steps were like a dance. He was graceful. His mother had named his Dancing Desire. He was now looking for his father. Batty. A chestnut thoroughbred. Maybe the mare knew his father. The only thing he knew is that Batty lived around here. Having a beautiful land and a small herd. The cave was dark. It took his eyes a while to adjust. When they did, he managed to make his way through. It was weird. Walking through a cave which seemed to have no end. He saw light and then realised. This mare was clever. It wasn't a cave. It was a tunnel. A tunnel which cut through the mountains. His pace did not quicken. It actually slowed. He was scared to see his father. He was two years old. Still a young colt. He had learned a lot though. Wandering alone had done him well. He had learned to watch his back. Listen to sounds that were good and bad. He had also found out the hoofprints of tame horses.

Batty was wandering around his land. He had been wondering about Kya. Where was she? Many times he had caught her scent on the air when she had went looking for her but every time he lost it. He put his head down and clipped the tips of the grass. It then began to rain. It rained a lot here. The mountains were a trap for it. He looked up as it hit his face. The stallion shook his head. He heard hooves. He could swear he heard hooves. He shook his head. He was imaging things. Surely. He went back to grazing. He heard the sound again. His ears flicked to the sound. He lifted his head. Batty was alert. Eyes watching the mouth of the cave. Then he saw the shape. The pregnant mare stumbled into his land. Then he recognized the face. Kya. He trotted up to the entrance and to the mare "Kya! What has happened to you? You have been gone for several days" he said and lowered his head. He cared for this mare. She was a friend. Also another member of his herd. He treated every member of his herd well. Not like darks.