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08-13-2012, 07:19 PM
Ratri drowsily opened her eyes to see that dusk was settling over the land. Just as well, this place was miserably hot during the day. As she had traveled farther into the territory, the blistering heat of the day further confirmed her thoughts on the solace of night. She had stuck to these trees as well as she could, trying to find some respite from the sun beating down upon the land. Someone had apparently pissed off the Sun.
Her dark eyes scanned the area carefully and her nostrils tested the air. She didn’t see or smell anything in her vicinity so as the forest awoke to the night, so did she. She heaved her strong frame from the bed she had made near the base of a tree that had not succumbed to the heat. There were several bushes in the area that concealed her spotted form from enemies. Being on her own had taught her many things… One of them being, you don’t want to be surprised by visitors, equine or otherwise.
Her white coat was dappled with black and grey spots, a leopard appaloosa. After she stood, she shook her body from head to rump to shake off the rest of her stupor. The moonlight caught the stark white of her mane and tail and the black pieces mingled into the ever darkening area. She tested the air again before moving forward at her usual lackadaisical pace.
The scent of others reached her with a start. It appears I am not alone… she thought to herself as she stopped dead still. A slight breeze from upwind drifted toward her assaulting her nostrils with the scents of others. A heavy sigh escaped her… It was time to stop this wandering. Her mother would want her to join a herd, to be a part of a family… Ratri did want her mother to be happy even if she couldn’t be with her.
Ever cautious, Ratri remained upwind and circled around the edge of the various gatherings in the forest, her hooves making a light noise on the drought-striken grass beneath her. She tried to not intrude, she tried to steer clear of what appeared to be stallions in deep conversations with mares they wished to take home with them.
Ratri was not the kind to initiate conversation; she was not the kind to be welcome wagon either. Her demure demeanor kept her on the outskirts of the activity. Most of were leaving… Heading to their respective homes for the evening. She smiled at their retreating forms, the dreamy look of someone who has missed being in the safety of a herd overcoming her before she shook her head… She would find a herd. One way or another.
When she finally found a suitable spot to stop, she was higher ground, a place where fire had turned the forest to ash. Her hooves kicked up the soot, revealing the tender shoots vainly trying to sprout underneath. Her hoof beats were muffled here… She turned around to look down, her favorite vantage point. The forest was thicker in parts that others, her little knoll didn’t provide her with much of a height advantage… A contented expression came over her nonetheless as she cautiously lowered her head to snatch up some of the tender shoots, her black ears working overtime to make up for her lowered guard.
