There was always one who broke the sunshine of the day with their own grey cloud of self-pity. Of late he had worn that role well. Yet as he strolled gloomily to the water’s edge, he realised - much to his seemingly permanent annoyance of all things alive - a lone figure, solemnly poised and as still as a rock had beaten him to the chase.

The poor fool he thought with a tinge of mirth. Perhaps it was the years he’d spent unsocialised in the wilderness, but it always felt good to witness another who cradled a heart bound more morose than he. But that wasn’t the only thing that tickled his mirth and tugged at his lips, forming a half smirk. As far as Etojo judged, the fellow looked ridiculous, perhaps the stallion was wishing his spots away, he’d try anything too if he’d looked like that. A deeper part of his consciousness told him that once upon a time, he himself had in fact done just that. The past was the past though, and he and this fellow dwelled solidly in the now.

Generally, Etojo would have kept the gap between them wide, but his throat felt parched and as such, his thirst drew him closer. And because today it amused him to do so, his hooves led him unnecessarily close alongside this odd spotted stranger lost in the throes of who knows what pitiful thoughts. He sucked up his fill of the water before turning his gaze upon the solemn stallion. Cold icy water droplets dribbled from his chin onto his chest, dribbled upon the muddied bank of the water’s edge, and perhaps too, flung unnecessarily upon the silent stranger.

“Ripple for your thoughts?” he leered as his body blocked the direct rays of sunlight whilst his shadow loomed over the stallion’s body like the dark cloud he himself was so often caught beneath.