After witnessing yet another hushed argument between his parents, Saxon decided that it was time to perhaps find someplace quiet to reflect on what he'd overheard. Avoiding his sisters took some effort but eventually the young colt had shaken off the determination of his siblings and managed to stumble across a rather secluded patch of forest. The darkened recesses called to him as easily as a siren's call would to a sailor. Taking cautious steps the colt made his way into the darkened patch and breathed a sigh of relief. Knowing that he was alone, the colt lashed out at a hollow log as he vented out his frustration. His voice echoed in the space around him. "Why do they always have to argue? Can't they see it is tearing the family apart?"
Saxon gave the log a final harsh kick with his back hooves before collapsing to the ground. A sob was torn from his small frame as he gave into the confusion and turmoil within his young mind. The realization that maybe he had to do something to earn at least the attention from one of his parents, whether it was good or bad came to him suddenly. With that Saxon rose to his hooves and began his trek towards home. He had not gone far in his journey when a loud squeal reached his ears. Saxon swung his head from left to right before dashing towards the noise as it sounded again. Once more the cry reached him before being strangled silent. Saxon froze. A quieter, more pitiful noise rose from the land before him as a large shape seemingly flew towards him. Saxon closed his eyes and trembled in fright. A moment passed and then another. Saxon opened one eye and realized that there were no shadows around him. Had it just all been a figment of his imagination? No, a quiet whimper, weaker sounding than before reached his ears again. Saxon cocked his head to the side before tracing the sound to its origin.
In an odd clearing a shape thrashed around. Saxon approached with caution and paused to observe the scene. The familiar scent of blood hit his nostrils and the colt found himself drawn closer. Whatever he'd discovered was obviously injured and under extreme duress. The cries had tapered off as if the animal realized that no help was coming for it. Saxon peered into the deep onyx eyes of a young creature that he'd never seen before. It lay bleeding from numerous slashes. As Saxon initiated eye contact the creature lay still except for a side that moved up and down too rapidly to be healthy. Saxon was frozen with indecision. He was no skilled healer and if he ran back to inform his parents it would start another argument. Saxon froze as an uneasy silence drifted over his mind. He knew what needed to be done. With infinite slowness he inched closer to the suffering creature. This needed to be done. Saxon made the mistake of looking again into the eyes of the creature and saw a strange mixture of trust and hope reflected back at him. Saxon hesitated before closing his eyes. "I must do this. I'm sorry."
With all hesitation gone Saxon pressed his hoof down on the creature's neck. The vibrations from the beast's struggles caused a wave of caustic bile to rise from his stomach before Saxon swallowed it back down. He had to see this through. What seemed like an eternity passed before Saxon felt no more resistance under his hoof. He shook out the numb feeling and peered down at the lifeless corpse. Although the creature's heart beat no longer, blood still oozed sluggishly from the wounds. Saxon watched the darkening liquid before pushing his muzzle deliberately into the creature's side. The scent of the blood overwhelmed his senses. Saxon inhaled deeply trying to understand why his mother needed such a substance. The taste of the congealing liquid hit his tongue. Was there a chance he could connect with her if he understood this?
As daylight continued to recede ... Saxon remained locked in place by morbid curiosity. Eventually he found himself waking up from what seemed like a deep stupor. The colt slowly took in his surroundings and then let his gaze sink back to ground level. So the act of killing something had not been a dream after all. Saxon ran his tongue over his muzzle. The taste of dried blood, which once made him gag, seemed to stir something to life inside. There was a faint feeling of rightness that he was meant to enjoy this newly acquired desire to slake his thirst on the life force of others. However joyous that moment was though; that moment of realization came with a steep price. Saxon backpedaled swiftly away from the dead creature appalled that he’d taken a life. Even though he had not mortally wounded the creature guilt ate at him that he had sped up the pending death. What was he to do?
Exiting the clearing, Saxon found the path to home and traveled down it, no longer the same colt he had been when he had left. Something had changed inside of him. He’d unlocked some hidden part of himself that night and there was a growing sense that he’d done something right, something that he could only share with his mother. She would understand. She had too.
[Fin]
