 Now that I’ve established I am nobody’s hero (least of all my own) and there’s no way my muscles are going to respond to any orders for the immediate future, I’m actually less terrified. It’s not like I’m looking forward to a bloody end but since there’s very little I can do, I do exactly that. My breathing slows from a rapid hyperventilation to a shuddering deep breath that is getting closer to my normal resting rate. I twitch my tail just slightly, the strands catching around my fetlocks. I move my gaze from the bird to the yellow eyes of the predator, who has suddenly started making a noise that sounds strangely like laughter. He hasn’t pounced. Why hasn’t he pounced? Its amusement morphs into sickening cracks and creaks as the black cat lengthens and grows. Morbid curiosity keeps my eyes open as a flurry of thoughts, this time unspoken, dart through my mind. Maybe the goal is to terrify me to death. If the first attempt didn’t work, I’m not sure this one will. What’s more terrifying than a big cat? Oh wait. I don’t want to know that. Gods, please don’t let me find out what’s more terrifying than a big cat. Maybe some other day? And what about the bird?! In what feels like both a lifetime and a mere moment, a blue roan stallion of my height is standing in front of me speaking words I don’t immediately catch. Confronted by the very corporeal, very male equine, I am suddenly extremely grateful that my slightly hysterical thoughts are my own. Unless, of course, he’s a mind reader in which case now would be the second-best time to make my escape. I might even be able to manage this one. My brain and body slowly releases me from my frozen terror and leaves me with the unwelcome emotions of embarrassment and vulnerability. My dark brown eyes widen as he approaches and circles, my ears flicking back to follow the progress of his inspection. I wonder what he is looking for. Some quality I am probably lacking? Does he think I’m pretty? This is, hands down, the weirdest day of my life. He speaks again and, now fully in control of my faculties, I catch every word. I prick my silver tipped ears forward and make what I hope is only a mildly sheepish smile. “ Uh, well, no. Believe it or not, I came here for a change of pace.” I give him an appraising look, not minding his company so much now that imminent death isn’t on the table. Plus, there is something rather attractive about him. Maybe his little friend helps his appeal. “I suppose I should thank you for that, then. This has certainly been a novel experience.” I grin a little, attempting to temper the sarcasm. “Since it looks like you’re not going to rip me to shreds, feel like giving me your name? Or an explanation for your unorthodox introduction? Do you terrify everyone you meet or just the special ones?”
S P A R R O W |
@[Ion]