02-06-2017, 12:59 PM
Thanata, like any wise mare, made it a point to have a good understanding of her home. Even though she had begun to grow bolder, learning to fight some to better protect herself and the other herd residents of her home, she wished to have a thorough knowledge so if she ever needed to escape, but remain within her home territory, she would know where to go.
This urge to find safe places to hide, along with her curious nature to explore the Tephra, had led the black mare to the northern shores, where the green meadows gave way to sandy beaches and craggy mountain bluffs that had been shaped by the waves buffeting against them. Often, she would come to stand there and look out over the distance of the ocean, mesmerized by its beauty. Sometimes, she thought that, off in the distance, she could glimpse the distant land of Ischia, but most of the time figured it was the fog in the bay tricking her mind.
Still, that didn't deter her from coming back. The view from the top if the craggy bluff above some caves was really quite beautiful, a sight that often drew her there multiple times within the span of just as many days. The quiet solitude of this place was just highly pleasing to the closeted mare, and she enjoyed the time she spent out here to be alone when she needed to get away from the herd.
On this particular day, the sun was shimmering bright above the bluffs, casting its golden rays down on the rough waves below. They struck the mountain like a force of thunder, briefly surprising the mare with the power of their blows. Perhaps the ocean was angry today? But there were no signs of an incoming storm. So what else could the land be responding to?
Thanata thought she had an answer when she noticed a flash of movement down below. She stepped closer to the edge of the bluff and spotted a black colt racing beneath the bluffs, in the direction of the caves that lined the mountains several yards above the reach of the waves. For a moment, Thanata wondered if she should go investigate. Then, a few minutes later, she saw another horse, one she did somewhat recognize. Not all the members of the Tephra she knew very well, but that mare was familiar; it was Raeg'n, a blue-colored mare that Thanata didn't often see around too much but had once been a regular resident here.
Curious as to what had happened, Thanata began making her way down the bluffs. Once she reached the bottom, she turned and headed for the caves, easily finding the one the two horses had gone in thanks to their hoof prints in the sand. She poked her head in the cave, making sure they weren't right by the entrance to receive an unexpected surprise from a nosy mare. Not seeing them, and figuring they were a bit more inside, Thanata entered the cave.
A short distance in, she spotted them. The black colt she'd seen running first was on the ground, sobbing heavily, while the mare appeared to be comforting him. Lowering her head some, the tender mare spoke in a soft voice, "What has happened? Are you two all right? Has someone been hurt?"
This urge to find safe places to hide, along with her curious nature to explore the Tephra, had led the black mare to the northern shores, where the green meadows gave way to sandy beaches and craggy mountain bluffs that had been shaped by the waves buffeting against them. Often, she would come to stand there and look out over the distance of the ocean, mesmerized by its beauty. Sometimes, she thought that, off in the distance, she could glimpse the distant land of Ischia, but most of the time figured it was the fog in the bay tricking her mind.
Still, that didn't deter her from coming back. The view from the top if the craggy bluff above some caves was really quite beautiful, a sight that often drew her there multiple times within the span of just as many days. The quiet solitude of this place was just highly pleasing to the closeted mare, and she enjoyed the time she spent out here to be alone when she needed to get away from the herd.
On this particular day, the sun was shimmering bright above the bluffs, casting its golden rays down on the rough waves below. They struck the mountain like a force of thunder, briefly surprising the mare with the power of their blows. Perhaps the ocean was angry today? But there were no signs of an incoming storm. So what else could the land be responding to?
Thanata thought she had an answer when she noticed a flash of movement down below. She stepped closer to the edge of the bluff and spotted a black colt racing beneath the bluffs, in the direction of the caves that lined the mountains several yards above the reach of the waves. For a moment, Thanata wondered if she should go investigate. Then, a few minutes later, she saw another horse, one she did somewhat recognize. Not all the members of the Tephra she knew very well, but that mare was familiar; it was Raeg'n, a blue-colored mare that Thanata didn't often see around too much but had once been a regular resident here.
Curious as to what had happened, Thanata began making her way down the bluffs. Once she reached the bottom, she turned and headed for the caves, easily finding the one the two horses had gone in thanks to their hoof prints in the sand. She poked her head in the cave, making sure they weren't right by the entrance to receive an unexpected surprise from a nosy mare. Not seeing them, and figuring they were a bit more inside, Thanata entered the cave.
A short distance in, she spotted them. The black colt she'd seen running first was on the ground, sobbing heavily, while the mare appeared to be comforting him. Lowering her head some, the tender mare spoke in a soft voice, "What has happened? Are you two all right? Has someone been hurt?"