I had known that children were rambunctious little things, but I did not truly know the extent of just how much trouble they could be. Especially Akos. He was already proving to be quite the handful. An adventurous scamp, I wondered where he could have gotten it from? I had been idling for a moment or two, regaining lost breath. He was running me ragged the little blue roan, and the cool shade of the conifer trees were beckoning me. Just for a moment, I thought. but alas, one closed eye and he was off, yet again!
I searched the coves around the Falls, to no avail. I searched the treelike, through the copse of trees and along the trails just inside of the forests. No luck. I was starting to worry. Only a few days old and he was already losing himself in the safety of the Falls. My heavy frame powered through the grounds, feathered hooves sashaying as I trotted through, calling here, wicking there. Finally, I see him, his dark body propelling through the water. I shook my head, strawberry mane curling around my face in the spring breeze. I called for him then. 'Akos!' I tripped over a few stray rocks by the side of the pools, thankfully regaining my balance. I snorted, a mess of sweaty red skin and knotted tresses, as I bundled on over, only to see what my son had found.
A stranger.
A coil of nerves pinged beneath my roan skin and my neck went taut, I called once more, and this time, hurried myself over. A new mother, I did not realise just how much worry had aged me so quickly. I circled and extended my neck, nudging the colt from the watery depths. Shaking my head. 'I've been looking everywhere for you, Akos.' I did not scold, but my green eyes softened, finding his small body and wrapping my head around his. I shook my crown before turning to the stranger, just about catching his words with my tufty red earlobes. Snapping my red plume against my hocks, the bothersome spring flies. I turned my attention to the strange steed, watchful in my gaze, and standing in quite a protective way over my son. Whether he meant threat or not, it was somewhat instinctive.
'Jacque, is it? This pleasant spring day welcomes you to the Falls.' I say, my tone soft, lilting. There is a worrisome tint, tiredness marring my red face, as I lift my salmon nose to greet him. My emerald gaze never leaving him, or Akos. 'I do hope my son was not bothering you. He is quite the adventurer of sorts, aren't you?' I turn my muzzle against the blue colt and ruffle his tufty mane with my lips. Gently caressing his poll, before turning my vast crown back to the stranger. 'What is it you seek, Jacque?' I ask, having well been in his situation before. The winter cold numbing my bones, the security and warmth of the falls, quite the welcoming beacon indeed. I then found myself staring at the stranger's earthy face. Oh, Oh! I shook my head, dipping my nose in a thousand apologies, turning my gaze back to idle by my son. Oh, how rude of me. I shook my head, rivulets of red curls falling across my face, hiding what would have been a proverbial blush. 'Oh, I'm dreadfully sorry, forgive me. I did not mean to stare.'
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- i'm a wishful thinker with the best intentions -
acolyte of the falls |
