Viveka stared openly at the sky, marvelling at how wonderful winter felt. The air tasted fresh and crisp on her tongue, remnants of the previous night's snowfall crunched beneath her hooves, and a cool breeze ruffled playfully through her mane. Everything felt so new, it was like she was seeing the landscape for the first time. And yet, it was peaceful. A snowy blanket lay across the ground, muffling all the sounds. Even the creek which usually babbled away was almost eerily still. She gave herself a luxurious stretch, glad her fur had grown out to keep her warm through the weather. Some soquili, she knew, kept their shorter coats and it made for a highly unpleasant season. But not her, no, she was toasty warm.
Her eyes scanned out across the landscape. Everything was in muted shades of whites, blues and browns - and the latter only there in the form of gnarly tree trunks, rising from the ground, their leaves long lost to the fall. Except for one thing. Her gaze narrowed, trying to discern the strange colour. A shape was curled up against the bank, black with.. red? What an usual colour to see at this time of year! Viveka pricked her ears upwards, changing course to trot towards the stranger.
For a stranger it was, she soon discovered. A stallion, by the looks of his build. Huddled up in the snow bank. For a brief moment she felt a pang o shyness flit through her, wondering if she should disturb him. But there was something about the atmosphere, something in the air, that gave her strength and resolve. She slowed her pace as she approached him, before tilting her head and asking a simple question, her voice open and inquisitive. "Cold?"
Reply
