It had been a long time since his hooves had last brought him back to these plains. There were many memories here, painful and bittersweet. His muscles gave an almost invisble shudder. Taking deep breaths as his ears swiveled back and forth, taking in all the details he could receive through sound alone, he mastered his unease.So what if there were uncomfortable memories here. He would not let them take away from his enjoyment of the plains.
One step at a time, the snow crunching loudly underhoof, he walked along, careful to retrace the paths he knew. He concentrated, not daring or able to do anything else. The handicap most noticed before they saw him was a fact of life he'd adjusted to and coped with for many long years. Stopping to get his bearings, he caught the steady if sluggish flow of water beneath the ice.
At once his body made him aware of the fact that he was thirsty. He shifted and altered his course just slightly, taking him from the paths he was comfortable with, towards the unknown paths and a stream that would slake his thirst. To be certain he would be able to find his way back, he took mental notes. Body turned a half step to the left, one pace, two, three... The stallion kept careful count as he made his way to the stream.
