The dark mare wandered cautiously through the trees, almost looking like a shadow. Her ears were tilted forward, catching every sound. Every crunch of the leaves under her solid hooves. Her heart pounded in a steady rhythm in her chest, and she flicked her tail nervously. Her nostrils flared, and she breathed in the crisp cool scent of this new and unfamiliar land. The breeze gently ruffled her long mane, chilling her. She shivered. The visible sky through the canopy of trees was an ominous pale grey color looming above the earth. As she continued along her way she wondered if she would encounter any other equines like herself. She sure hoped not. She didn't think she was welcome here, and didn't want to meet any hostility. But had absolutely no clue as to where she was, and the name of this place. Suddenly, she stopped short, her mind flooded with the bitter memories of her past. She shuddered as she recalled the rogue stallion and his band attacking her birth herd, killing both her parents and her brother. He had tried to capture her, and she had been forced to flee her home, barely escaping. She had been wandering alone for the past year.

The sound of a snapping branch brought her back to her senses. She shied backwards, and backed up a few feet. Is there anybody there? Her voice was hoarse and rough from no use. But her fearful voice was just a passing echo in the breeze. Then she noticed that it was just a small red bird sitting in the branched above. But the adrenaline was still pumping through her system. She broke into a fast canter, veering around the tall trees that lay in her pay. The wind whipped through her mane, and blew her long forelock into her eyes. Her solid grey hooves dug into the earth, eating up the ground. She effortlessly leaped over a fallen log, tucking her slender legs neatly underneath her body. She gave a small snort as she landed, and broke into a trot, then back to a walk.

She couldn't afford to be making so much noise, when there could be anybody around. She didn't want to be confronted. She huffed, still exhilarated from her fast paced run. She didn't know which direction to take, so she just kept heading in the direction she had been originally going.