starting anew -- any

[eloquentfox]

The rising of the sun over the horizon marked the fifth day she'd been by herself. Recently booted from her herd, she was a wandering mare who stopped for no one. Well, that's what she thought at first. She had never experienced what it was like to be physically alone. There had always been a sturdy, warm body to lean against when the stars revealed themselves in the night sky. Her only mate had been a tree, which she found comfort in. This whole "actually independent" mare thing was for someone who was mentally strong. Beauty Bird was not that someone. Ahhh, that name usually strikes a few chords in others. Such a charming label for... A sooty mustang? That couldn't be right; but alas-- it was. Her grulla pelt wasn't as ravishing as a honeysuckle palomino or a misty grey, but it was the color of her family. They were a band made up of bays, roans, grullas, duns, and every so often your typical charcoal knight. Not very exciting nor extravagant. This is where Beauty Bird sought to be different. Although her coat bland to some, it was her face that stuck out. She was very sweet in appearance, almost like a bashful filly with the way her long, dark forelock usually covered one chocolate eye. Looks could be deceiving. She wasn't a young mare to mess with. The moment you throw shade her way is the moment your peace comes to a destructive halt. It was a morning like the rest since she had been on her own. A basic routine had begun to take over her actions. She would wake up, head to the nearest water source, graze, then leave. Encounters with other horses were rare. The newest field she'd arrived at the border of smelled fresh with others, therefore today she knew she'd be in for some well-needed company. The vixen dragged her lazy bones to the creek she had decided to camp near the night prior. Her ears were perked in alert, eyes scanning for any indication of a fellow presence. She detected nothing, deeming it safe to show herself. She pushed out from the brush, confidence in her steps as she approached the molasses flowing water. Her nostrils flared, giving one last check before she lowered her neck and dipped her muzzle into the cool liquid. It was refreshing going down her parched throat, and she bet it was even better to roll in. Summer was in full swing, leaving the days to be warm. The sun was in the middle of the sky, making the planet as heated as it would get that day. Beauty Bird plunged a hoof into the water, pawing it, splashing her chest with the liquid. She took a few more steps in, then flopped onto her side, falling with a crash. She rolled from side to side until her pelt was slick and coated in mud. Only then did she stand once more, shaking off the droplets that slid down her sides. She released a snort of amusement, bounding out of the creek with foal-like energy. Now that she was awake, she felt her electric blood surging through her. She bounced around in a circle, throwing her head back to rear at an invisible foe. When she landed she glanced side to side, lifting her nose to a branch that hung before her. She was very inquisitive, and decided to scope out the tree itself. She knew she was acting like a newborn filly, yet she didn't care.