Ashamin

His only warning was a cry.


Lochan’s piercing bellow, growing deeper with each day, was still a wavering series of notes that had yet to form a symphony. But the haruspex, young Ashamin, knew its tune well. He had memorized its every dip and swell, and he recognized this refrain. Ashamin had heard it in his dreams and as he’d woken up, it was the call of a mind not yet capable of speech internal: watch out.


But it did not come quick enough, and so it was only the other mare’s movement that saved the pair from a collision. He heard her voice, almost gruff, but was still able to recognize her gender by her scent. She was a mare, to be sure, just not the most kindly of them.


The Haruspex let his body lean and twist, but his motion was blind and hers unavoidably direct. Her shoulder struck his with irritation, mussing the thick blanket of fur on his painted shoulder, smudging the white daub across his side with black winter hairs. He snorted instinctively and tossed his head, finding himself frustrated with the cloth and its restrictions. But as he reached to tug on its silken end, Ashamin was stopped.


Lochan’s brow, now studded with two short horns, pressed firmly against his bonded’s chest, and the Haruspex was reminded. No, this was tradition. It would not be ignored for the sake of a scrouge. And his good manner would not be jostled, would not be swayed.


His apology was unnecessary and certainly unsolicited from such a rough-touch sort, but Ashamin would not dare go on without it. ”Pardon, stranger,” he called back in what he hoped to be her general direction with care. His forehooves lifted and landed in the snow as he turned and danced. Lochan flashed pictures of the mare, white as snow and a unicorn like Ashamin, in crude crayon-like drawings. Until Lochan mastered such forms of communication, the images displayed would always have wobbly lines and mismatched colors. But the haruspex was able to get a clear enough picture, and a location if nothing else. He faced what he had gathered to be her direction, then, and called out once more: ”Please, don’t part yet. It would be nice to have some company in this cold, don’t you think?”

He had a sneaking suspicion the attempt would be fruitless, and that she would not agree. But it was worth a try, wasn’t it?