Zahra, Ilham, and Hanna

It was pride that turned angels into devils

With baited breath and an expanding inclination to just flee the presence of the shrieking, cold-lurking creature within the cave, Zahra stiffened in place. The echo of movement, of clattering and wind echoed from the gaping entrance and her wild imagination reeled with theories - two-legged monsters lathered in hair, feathers, fanged felines prowling, even wicked mice teasing her resolve with amplifying funnels and makeshift wings… Her fine black ears wavered cautiously as her thundering pulse overwhelmed all thought in her mind, and she cast a wide golden eye to where the pale-coated Kitsune had paused a safer distance away. Both trembled with anticipation, terrified but all the same eager.

Thought of death and gore faded swiftly, if only for now, and from the surface of her mind. She was a child, too easily distracted, bribed from the claws of pessimism by the prospect of new adventure, excitement - that’s what life was all about.

Seconds later, and much to the siblings’ surprise, a creature like nothing Zahra could have ever predicted emerged with scales gleaming in the dusky low-light. It was not quite a lizard of which she had seen many, not really a dragon like that which her mother had shown her both by the gift of new memory and in tales long ago; it certainly was not a bird, though its bi-legged posture was similar, and its voice drew naught but the ricochet of shivers down her spine. She slid backwards artfully, gaze fixed to the most astonishing creature. By no means at all did it seem to be friendly.

Behind her Bird growled, reluctant though to rise to any challenge.

With no time to spare, to think or even really respond, another horse appeared behind the winged serpent, and the small gold-dusted filly could only listen as she scolded harshly. The creature’s wicked tail curled submissively and it shrank back like a child, warned away from deep water. Zahra’s heart sank for a moment and she thought of her best friend Ze-ro and the instructions he’d bestowed that night down in the meadow… “You gotta take care of her, and never be mean to her…” the brave, wise colt had said, and the trusting girl had thus far adhered to every word. Concernedly she turned, but her sister had slipped nearer already, hackles raised leather satchel resting between pastel claws.

“S’ok Bird,” she soothed in vain.

The mare stepped closer to the bound couple, and the foal’s weary gaze returned to meet her. Between her pretty blue eyes grew a horn tinged the same - it glowed curiously, enchantingly - and for a long while it held the girl’s undivided attention. "Yes," she answered quickly, stare flinching not even for a second. "But Ze-ro says y-can’t be mean to a ‘panion…" The matter of fact tone lacing each softly spoken word was laced with childish innocence and when Zahra finally did drag her stunned eyes away, they found the mares’ before her, riddled with concern. "K?" she mimicked the colt’s request bluntly.

Her taller company’s eyes diverted suddenly, and the filly turned her face around curiously to find the new attraction.

Nothing but a flat field of dimming brown and white…

The other reached forward in friendly gesture and Zahra smiled gingerly upon return, answering with a soft flutter of nostrils against the stranger's new warmth. "In the cave," she replied genuinely - they lay together beneath a great rugged mountain which belonged to Grampa Earth. She had been without them, wandering like a grown up, for months. Golden pools swung between the Sikeax the Unicorn and Hobbaglobbin the ‘panion, before she too issued her name and Bird’s. "I'm Zah… I’m Zah-ra," she explained with considerable effort, "…and Bird." Thin inky lips danced across the puppy’s white face fondly. "…d'ya got any eggs?"