Frail and thin, the gangly legs of the horned, winged colt fumbled through the undergrowth.

The flimsy arms of ferns reached across his aimless path, and strange vine draped cunningly between copses, sought to trip him constantly. Ack... knees buckled against the grip of the unyielding Pipe’s string and his small mass flung forward heavily into the gravelly sand below. The length of brittle horn he’d been carrying between delicately clasped teeth, flew from his grip, and snapped again when it struck the golden-like, rock-strewn loam ahead. Helpless eyes followed it, wincing grimly as it broke. Luckily, the other still perched safely atop his brow.

"You are just so annoying!" he scolded bitterly, meek voice straining as frustration flooded the air. Kari scrambled to his hooves, turning to bite frantically at the plant now swinging casually in jest, with small wings thrust open. "See!" he spat, moving still further to trample each severed end lying limp to the side. "...that’s just what happens when you toy with me, when you break my things." Little chest puffed angrily, short neck propped high upon meagre rolling shoulders, and the colt felt well satisfied with the beating he’d so appropriately given.

He was tiring of the relentless heat here (then horribly cold nights!). Even though the shade he traipsed beneath was fair, there just seemed to be no respite aside from swimming- and Kari’s flaking skin itched terribly, having dried out so much because of this. Flustered, he abandoned the ruined vine (his shattered horn), and continued on his way towards the lake. He’d had little luck on his quest to find Shadow, and every day hungry without her, increased his resentment; confusion and loneliness. He found little comfort in the company of those well meaning souls of this arid graveyard (harsh, considering the loveliness of the oasis he’d spent most of his time lounging in), and thus found himself avoiding them mostly, slipping along these small-animal tracks that no other was really little enough to find.

Kari felt empty, though he was too young perhaps still to comprehend it.

Ahead the surface of the lake glistened and winked- laughing at me, he thought sullenly, already bothered, sweeping the pursuing haze of flies away with a flick of his long, silk adorned tail. The sun was setting already, and a dim shadow was growing all around him.

Another day wasted... His heart sank a little and he sighed.

Suddenly there was a blurred movement ahead, blocking out his view of the water, if only for part of a second. Blue pools widened suspiciously and he crouched in place, quite like a rabbit in waiting. The call purged by the stallion’s lungs shook his slight frame, resonated through the deepening darkness of the sky above, and Kari felt horribly obliged to emerge. As the painted stranger’s knees folded beneath him, the colt stepped timorously from his cover. "Who are you?" he asked carefully, turning one narrowed eye to examine his fallen company.