The sun had set many hours ago, and his mother had gently ushered he and his sister to bed. The grass was cool, pressing against his flanks and side even as he quietly lay awake, the cornflower blue of his eyes bright and thoughtful even as he stared out into the night. The sound of crickets chirping and his mother's voice had always served as a wonderful lullaby, but tonight, the colt was possessed by an uncanny restlessness. His mother and father had talked quietly amongst themselves, two golden guardians that radiated only love and protection. But they too had eventually fallen under slumber's sweet song, and, moving as quietly as he could to avoid disturbing his family.
Something in his brain told him that he shouldn't have started pacing throughout the forest by himself at night, but he'd never exactly been forbade from being by his lonesome with only the glint of the moon to guide him. There were dangerous things out in the world--both mama and daddy had told him that, but it seemed like just another story. It felt safe here, peaceful, and he peered up through the dark, shadowy limbs of the trees, the black-blue of the outstretched sky littered with bright specks that glistened and twinkled. Stars, mama had said. They watched over everything and everyone, but they were too far away to talk to. Sita had tried a few times, but they had been silent, cold, and glittering.
He'd never had time to really watch them before, and eager to find more, the colt quickened his pace and bounded through the forest, searching for a clearing to find a better place to observe his quiet, shimmering company. He'd only be gone a little while, his family would never realize he'd been gone!
...Though of course, he'd have to tell Sita about it later.
