I squeeze my eyes shut tight as the dawn begins to break over the horizon. The blackness my closed lids became now slowly tinted with oranges and red. My eyes are truthfully becoming more sensitive, but my young mind has failed to make any concrete connections to this. Normally, I would have attempted to return to sleep, to laze in the grasses a while longer. This day though, it has something different in mind.
A ruckus reaches my ears, they quiver at the harsh tones, of distress and discomfort. I lift my head up, blinking my copper hued eyes out into the open meadows. Stray stark hairs have begun to spread over the bridge of my nose, soon enough they would canvas my entire frame. Finally, the morning sleep leaves my eyes, and I can focus properly. Another girl heaves a distance away, her sides slick with perspiration, I can see it glisten on her ebony pelt.
A rise with purpose now, this was someone that I indeed did not know, and I had met most the younglings of my herd. A lope gracefully towards the other, my stilts thin but toned. Whisps of raven mane stick out sporadically from my neck, having not grown out just yet. When I reach her I notice she is in quite the pickle, one dagger lodged artfully in a stump. Her hide is unadorned, save for a peculiar stripe running down her face. It glows purple, much to my delight but also my curiousity."That's rotten luck." I say, though it is rather obvious nothing was good about this situation, except perhaps our meeting.
"I'm Tioga, would you like some help, umm...I'm sorry what is your name?"I ask not wanting to speak to her so formally. I can't help but stare at her unique mark.
![[Image: Tioga.png]](http://s16.postimg.org/ceb0gz0n9/Tioga.png)