Ree.

Early morning is possibly her favorite time of the day. The sun is just barely breaching the edge of the horizon, the first few rays of radiant light stretching determinedly beyond the boundaries of the earth they are captured behind. The land stirs, birds flitting through the air with their sing song chirrup following them as they go, a gentle breeze stirs the tall grasses that surround the Throat’s center piece; a vast, beautiful lake. Everything else is rather silent, incredibly still, the calm before the world awakens to begin another day. It is in that moment of suspended, unmarred serenity that Ree finds herself most at ease. It is the only time the naturally anxious mare does not worry about what lies ahead, but rather basks in the glow of the moment, reveling in the tranquility of daybreak.

She stands with her fore hooves in the water that laps at the lakes sandy shore, granules of grit and grime clinging to the slight feathers of her fetlocks, hazel eyes peering down at the reflection that stares uncertainly back at her. She tries to smile, but her attempt falters, and instead she continues to stare forlornly down at the frightened, nervous image of herself painted in the cool stillness of the lake’s undisturbed surface. There was nothing to be fearful of, no rhyme or reason for the young mare to feel distressed or uneasy within the safe confines of the Dragon’s Throat. But like it always does the pin prick of panic wallows in the depths of her thoughts and rests heavily on her soul, a led weight determined to drown her in the river of her own insecurities. Like a sullen child Ree splashes at the image of herself, disappointed in the meek and mild individual who stares back at her each time she visits the lakeside, sending crystal clear droplets of water soaring through the air, shimmering in the sunlight of the rising sun as they go.

She turns away, slowly and methodically walking through the tall, lush grasses that are native to the desert oasis she lives in. The occasional palm tree looms over her as she passes, casting shade for the occasional passerby to rest in if they need. Ree does not stop though, but continues to traipse forward, propelled by nothing more than the restless need to feel the ground moving away from beneath her hooves with each step. As she goes her thoughts whirl by in a flurry of endless, incessant images, nothing but nonsensical, useless qualms that make her fret and worry. Two times now she had dared to wander outside the protection of the Throat’s borders, into the wilds of Helovia’s Heart, and two times she had returned unscathed. It seemed impossible that she had not encountered some sort of danger during her brave escapades, yet here she stood, fully intact with all limbs and no broken bones. Her forays away from the safety of the known and the normal have woken a curiosity she did not know she possessed. Ree found herself contemplating the vast expanse of land beyond the desert, the places and strangers that existed outside the carefully crafted safety of her world.

Ree pauses, looking to the east where the sun is visible now, imagining what places lie in wait on the other side of the horizon. In her head she can hear her mother’s condescending voice, grating and patronizing, commentating on how ridiculous an idea it was to think that there was anything worth finding beyond the shelter of one’s own existence. It is that small minded train of thought that prevents the petite bay mare from finding out any different. Ree bites her lip thoughtfully, her pretty head upturned as she continues to stare distantly off into the unknown. The sun dances across her skin and if one were to look at her just right it would appear that her profile seems to glow, clearly defining the ivory white trail of hairs that run the length of her face, where it fades into the soft pink of her nose. Her green eyes are thoughtful, bright, and alive with fascination as she drops her head and begins to graze, humming a merry, blithe tune reminiscent of the small song birds that flit through the blue skies over the top of her head.