A warm spring wind blows off the ocean and picks up your already knotted mane, twisting it into infinitely more complicated designs that even a sailor could not copy. The waves lap up around your hooves, washing off some of the mud and muck that seems to make up the entirety of your lower limb. Perhaps a hint of white even shows beneath all the grime, though it may just be wishful thinking. The gulls fly above, crying out with demands you do not understand. Each step you take digs your hooves deep into the sand, your tired muscles straining with the effort it takes to move you forward. If the mud were washed from your sides, one would notice ribs sticking out from your side like you're sickly. Yes, you're quite a contrast to the beautiful beach you walk on.

A leaf has attached itself to one of your horns, no doubt from your constant rooting about in the brush. A particularly harsh gust of wind causes it to flap about and you toss your head in severe annoyance. Lowering your head to your limb, you rub your horn along your leg until the leave falls from your horn and settles down onto the beach. The action is rough and your strange flailing sends you tumbling off to the side, into the waves. The sand digs and your hooves and resistance from the water puts you dangerously close to tipping over. You've managed to stumble knee-high into the water when a large wave rolls in from the water and provides an opposing force. The strength of the wave gives you enough time to organize your feet and you manage to stop your falling, though you've still managed to make quite a fool of yourself. If you were near something solid, your hoof certainly would have crashed into the object in irritation by now.

Heart beating somewhat quickly from your actions, you decide to continue standing in the water and give yourself a moment to collect. To console your hurt pride, for nothing else on you is hurt, you dig into the bag on your shoulder and pull out one of the plants that you keep tucked away within it. As you chew on it, the juices flow down around your tongue and you sign with relief. You know that soon, the intoxicating effects of the plant will take over and you will be whirled away into your own, zoned-out little world. For now, you have to endure the real world a little bit longer. At the very least, you think, you'll have the cool splash of waves against your tired muscles to keep you company until that time comes. You deserve their silent company after the noisy herd meeting you've just had to endure. Herd, you snort with frustration. You can't imagine why you ever told lace-face you'd follow her. You're glad you did though, if only for her sake.

@[Shajake]

we all look for ways to make the pain go away