The murky smoke-like substance that seemed to plunge the endless forest into dim darkness offered no hope to weary, lonely travellers. It was only those of herds who set their hooves or claws upon the darkened terrain with the slightest joy in themselves - the chance for new members and potential mates was always inviting. As a wanderer however without the home so many had become accustomed to, curious happiness thwarted the riddled corridors that formed the mind of the being at the chance of maybe, just maybe having a family or at least a home. It could be said that his robin friend Terra was family, and indeed he was, but equine family. A mate and children, grandchildren maybe? Logic, though, ever so kindly pointed out that being a nine year old, few mares would send their eye his way and his tendency to wander hardly made him the best father or mate. Perhaps he was destined to love no other except Mother Nature herself? Of course that was a weird concept, but when one sang to himself and told stories to youngsters of the natural world, and sometimes the supernatural, was "love" really for him? Perhaps...perhaps not. Fate would let him know at some point, and if death came before love then his answer would be clear. Yet thinking of forever living with none other than his little bird friend brought through the potential to feel lonely, and that was where his desire to be one of a herd came into play.

His strong frame weaved through the dark wilderness, shadows coating each and every atom in the land. He didn't know why it was dark, an eternal night, a true disaster? Was Mother Nature angry and saw fit to plunge her world into darkness to teach the inhabitants a lesson in her power? Or perhaps it was the result of the Gods...? The darkness played tricks with his crowded mind, merging the lines between past and present, a sense of time fabricated into nothingness with the eternal lack of light. Upon his withers perched Terra, his fluffy grey and ruby form unmoving as if he was indeed part of the Spanish blood that wandered the forest. It was when his tiny head tilted and he sat straighter, dark pupils to the heavens that the bay equine halted, neck coiling around to look at his companion who was truly fixated upon the skies. Unsure of what captured his friend so, the stallion turned those honest emerald orbs skyward, sucking in a heavy breath as he witnessed the first faint rays of a long awaited dawn shred the inky black sky. "High Ho High Ho, It's Back to the map we go..." Garnock whispered softly to his companion who chose to chirp absently, apparently forgetting the ability to communicate that was unique to these types of friends only. Dawn. The endless night was over, at long, long last. Garnock sighed happily, ebon kissers curving into a gentle smile as Terra took flight, his tiny body flitting upwards through the shadowy trees and disappearing through the canopy. Garnock's tail lashed quickly to his kinds as sturdy ebony legs would move him into a collect, compact trot, his outline rounded as was typical of his bloodlines. Above him, Garnock heard the ever beautiful song of his companion, joy thick through his well-practised lyrics but the stag didn't pause to enjoy the music. The distinctly earthy palette that draped his form merged easily into the backdrop before the Andalusian came upon a tiny, tiny clearing in the trees. To be fair, it was more of a minor scarcity in the treeline than a clearing, but even so. Topaz shades coloured the newly rejuvenated sky as Garnock stopped, rolling backwards on his powerful hinds and reaching upwards silently to the dawn, fine, majestic Andalusian lines perfectly silhouetted. The ebony tassels that formed his thick forelock spread across his features as the stallion snorted into the crisp morning air as Terra finished his beautiful song and returned to his spot upon Garnock's withers as the equine landed on all fours.