They reconvene at the log mere breaths after he finds it. It’s a horribly rotting thing with a charred end that, if they would have been more experienced, the foals would have attributed to lightning. The bark sloughs off in places, creating more litter and hiding spots for earth’s most humble creatures. Ramiel doesn’t know this, however, and he’s rather skeptical of finding any life among the ruin. Joscelin gives her approval, though, and he waits with baited breath when she turns it over.
But then something explodes out from under the log.
His anticipation turns to shock when a black snake abandons its disturbed home and shoots between the eight collective legs of the filly and colt. It moves too quickly for Ramiel to move himself, and he feels the cool slither of the animal’s scales brush against his fetlock. He is too stunned to do anything at first, but as the shushing sound of the retreating snake dims with distance, he turns to the girl. “You didn’t tell me that would happen?!” But unharmed and finally getting the excitement he craves, he leaps forward to see how many other secrets are hidden under the timber.
As it turns out, there are hundreds. Hundreds of slimy snails and creepy centipedes and wily worms and many more that Ramiel has never seen before. He thinks there are probably more that he can’t see, hidden under layers of dirt. It’s a completely different world than the one they live in, this microcosm – its own kingdom within their kingdom. It makes him feel both powerful and helpless all at once. After all, he could easily destroy this system with a few well-placed steps. He wonders if the same could be said for their Dale.
“It’s amazing. I wonder if – “ but he’s cut short from his musing when the cry rings out. Joscelin looks at him once before taking off after the sound. And in his giddiness, he follows without question. They are a streak of red and black and gold as they inadvertently give chase through the forest. Branches whip at his sides and leaves lodge themselves alongside the gilded strands of his mane. Just as soon as he’s settled into the run, though, the girl abruptly ends it. Ramiel comes up behind her, a careless grin curling his lips until he sees why she has stopped. Normally, the wild cats are eager to leave the resident horses alone. They are no match for an adult, but having been found out by two overenthusiastic foals, this one seems more willing to gamble. It had arched its back in fear as they burst from the woods, but now, the predator slinks down into a pounce.
Icy fear courses through Ramiel then.
Instinct urges him to run, to abandon Joscelin to her fate. But his heart tells him otherwise, and in a beat of that vital organ, he moves up ahead of the filly. ”Fly away. I’ll distract it until we get to the river.” Terror fuels him as he leaps across Joscelin’s path, trying to draw the cat’s attention away from his friend long enough for her to get away.
r a m i e l
what a day to begin again