la jeune fille marquée
Minette has no desire to snitch. Although she has come to trust and even care for Gryffen, she has never been one to report on others. This is not true of all the residents of the mountains, however and before the mare can introduce herself, Minette adds a warning.
“The ravens-” She starts to speak, stops and clears her throat, and continues with a rueful look. Her voice is rarely in use. Gryffen is not chatty, and Leck prefers silence. “The ravens... they spy.”
It is all she will say aloud of the ravens. She owes many of her scars to their interference. Even now the large black birds are settling in the branches of the pines above the mares. Minette's hatred, a raging fire, burns through her for an intense moment before fading away. It would be difficult to say that anger had ever been shining in her now sympathetic brown-eyed gaze.
“Felinae. That is beautiful.” Minette smiles then, a genuine smile and a rare one. Her features soften and the worry that has clouded her face clears away. “It is a pleasure to meet you.”
Despite the circumstances, she is sincere. At her core there is a longing for female companionship, for the softer and more tender sex.
She wants to assure the blue mare that Gryffen may be rough but he is not ireedemable. She knows that Felinae will not believe her. At time she has trouble believing it herself and in any case, Gryffen's kindness must be something that others discover for themselves. Minette has seen flashes in him of vulnerability and pain and a desire to change. She does not know his act is for show, engineered towards his final act to break her. The pale gray mare has never contemplated that he could be deceptive in that way. Cruel and demanding, but not creative. And he has chosen his target well. Minette wants desperately to believe that the scars of the past are being changed into something for the better.
Her heart goes out to the young mare. Minette does not know the situation from which she came, but being stolen from one's home is far from desirable. The gray mare finds herself curious about Felinae's past, although she does not ask. Well enough does she know that the past can be a haunting subject.
“The sun never really shines well here,” Minette offers gently as the pair forage. She speaks apologetically, as if someone had arrived in her home before she had time to dust. The scarred gray mare has grown used to the mists of the mountain. The cold chill that is there even through the hottest of summer days once tormented her as well, although in recent days it is a balm to her aching joints.
Minette dips her head to graze, patient. She will not push or probe, but she is a naturally companionable ear. Felinae needs time and Minette knows that for better or worse, there will be plenty of that. Gryffen is jealous of his herd. The white stallion will let none of them go as long as he draws breath.
“The ravens-” She starts to speak, stops and clears her throat, and continues with a rueful look. Her voice is rarely in use. Gryffen is not chatty, and Leck prefers silence. “The ravens... they spy.”
It is all she will say aloud of the ravens. She owes many of her scars to their interference. Even now the large black birds are settling in the branches of the pines above the mares. Minette's hatred, a raging fire, burns through her for an intense moment before fading away. It would be difficult to say that anger had ever been shining in her now sympathetic brown-eyed gaze.
“Felinae. That is beautiful.” Minette smiles then, a genuine smile and a rare one. Her features soften and the worry that has clouded her face clears away. “It is a pleasure to meet you.”
Despite the circumstances, she is sincere. At her core there is a longing for female companionship, for the softer and more tender sex.
She wants to assure the blue mare that Gryffen may be rough but he is not ireedemable. She knows that Felinae will not believe her. At time she has trouble believing it herself and in any case, Gryffen's kindness must be something that others discover for themselves. Minette has seen flashes in him of vulnerability and pain and a desire to change. She does not know his act is for show, engineered towards his final act to break her. The pale gray mare has never contemplated that he could be deceptive in that way. Cruel and demanding, but not creative. And he has chosen his target well. Minette wants desperately to believe that the scars of the past are being changed into something for the better.
Her heart goes out to the young mare. Minette does not know the situation from which she came, but being stolen from one's home is far from desirable. The gray mare finds herself curious about Felinae's past, although she does not ask. Well enough does she know that the past can be a haunting subject.
“The sun never really shines well here,” Minette offers gently as the pair forage. She speaks apologetically, as if someone had arrived in her home before she had time to dust. The scarred gray mare has grown used to the mists of the mountain. The cold chill that is there even through the hottest of summer days once tormented her as well, although in recent days it is a balm to her aching joints.
Minette dips her head to graze, patient. She will not push or probe, but she is a naturally companionable ear. Felinae needs time and Minette knows that for better or worse, there will be plenty of that. Gryffen is jealous of his herd. The white stallion will let none of them go as long as he draws breath.