--A New Start

[deadlysecrets]

Have you every s.c.r.e.a.m.e.d. out in the dark

She wandered for so long. It seemed like ages. Her legs were numb with each step she took. Her head barely came above her shoulders. Her bay pelt barely shone in the sun. Such a beauty she was. It was a shame all she looked was sad now. Renewal had made it through the Valley of Wandering Souls. She had sworn she heard horses screaming but when she looked no one was there. It had made her believe that she had been alone for too long and she was now imagining things. Leaving the valley had been refreshing and being in a field was a very nice change than the hard dirt earth of the shadowy valley she had just came from. Her relief didn't last long. Renewal didn't escape the clutches of her old home to end up in a field with no other equines. She didn't have the strength to fight off any would-be attackers if she had to. No, she couldn't stay here, she had to keep moving. The mare set her tired legs in motion once more and started walking. She was hungry but she didn't allow herself to eat, not while she was so vulnerable.

Her big brown eyes looked around her. In the distance were mountain ranges. No, she would never make it there. In the opposite direction was a vast beach area. That would do either. Her legs weren't strong enough to successfully walk through sand right now. Ahead of her, far in the distance, was a giant lake. Yes. She needed water desperately. Taking a deep breath she forced her legs to move at a faster pace. Her legs were so numb she couldn't feel them moving any faster but she saw that she was. Hope was rising within her. If this was the main water source around here then any horses in the area would wander here for a drink. Renewal didn't know this place well so she had no idea each region had its own smaller water sources, but her naive hope was the reason she was willing to keep going. A hope that there would be a herd for her that was free of stallion abuse. She didn't want to be a toy for them anymore. She was getting closer to the water. The bay sped up even more to a full gallop even though her legs were ready to give out at any second and only came to a stop when she touched the water. Renewal stood still and inhaled deeply. The water felt amazing on her tired legs. She looked around and was once again disappointed. No one. Not a single soul was around her. Renewal dropped to the ground with a splash. The cool water of the lake licked as her exhausted body. Her head was just about to fall into the water as she saw something in the distance all the way across the lake. She rolled from being on her side to on her belly as she stared at the image so far from her. Inhaling deeply once more she caught it. The wind was blowing her way so there was no mistake. That was another horse and a mare to make it even better.

Ignoring her tired body she rose to all four legs once more, the water dripped off her pelt. She looked around, searching for a way to get there. Her hope was dwindling she couldn't find a way across, but she was desperate. Taking a deep breath, Renewal plunged deeper into the lake and began to swim across. There was a huge probability that she could drown. The factors were against her. She had never swam before in her life and she was beyond exhausted. The only reason she was still alive was sheer desperation. She needed to know she wasn't living in vain now, that her hopes weren't purely naive ones. Her back end started sinking and she began to panic but she moved her legs more fiercely and was able to keep just her head above the water as she attempted to get across the lake. It was a lot larger now that she was swimming it. The thrusts in her legs were getting slower and slower, but she couldn't give up now. Not when she finally saw another horse. One that could possible help her. Her eyes started closing as she swam. It wasn't a fight to stay awake. It was a fight to stay alive at this point. If her eyes closed she was dead. It was as simple as that. Her breathing became harder for the water was starting to go into her mouth and she fell into the water as soon as her hooves hit something solid. In a panic she surged upward only to realize that she could now stand. Slowly she walked out of the water. Her head just high enough to not be dragging in the water. Once on shore she rose her head a little higher to find the figure. She saw her. The mare was dun in coloration that was how close Renewal was becoming. Renewal screamed out to make sure the mare didn't leave. She was on her way.

Thinking ||no one|| else could hear

[Coal]

Rabbit...

Rabbit had only been in this lonely territory for a matter of weeks, and although she had claimed it as hers, at least in her own mind, she had yet to set out in search of the mares she needed to start her own herd. Oh, she planned too, sure, but only once she had regained her full strength; the journey there had really taken it out of her. She was recovering well now, her sides, which had become a little gaunt on the long trek, filling out and the swelling in the muscles of her legs subsiding. She still did not feel quite herself however; she tired quicker than she ought, and sometimes, when she ate a lot, her stomach still ached. On the plus side, the headaches caused by dehydration had entirely stopped, thanks to the lake her land held.

At that particular moment, she was quite far from that lake, though within viewing distance. She had started there in the morning, with her ritual morning drunk, and steadily grazed her way away to the top of a small incline, from whence she could see the majority of her lands. She was not paying much attention however, head down to the lush grasses, and as the wind was not in her favour she did not smell the approach of the other mare. It was so nice to be able to just eat without having to worry about being pounced upon by some predator, which thankfully seemed to be rare in the lush meadow. Perhaps she had grown incautious, but who could blame her? Months of travel through dangerous lands and now she was safe. She felt free, as though a great weight had been lifted off her back, and yet she was lonely. It was common knowledge that horses were herd animals by nature, and Rabbit, for all her independence and wilfulness, was no different. Still, she had a plan; she just needed to be in tip-top condition first.

It was only the faint sound of splashing that alerted the dun female to the presence of another equine. Curious rather than anything else, she raised her head and squinted in the direction of the lake. Tipping her head, she could just make out a dark spot in the water, surrounded by white foam. Now rather concerned, Rabbit took a few steps forward and continued to watch, her ears pricked forward. The spot quickly resolved itself into a horse, and after a few more moments Rabbit began to get the impression that that horse was in some sort of distress; he or she certainly was thrashing a lot. For a few moments, the dun hesitated, then she scolded herself and began to trot down to the lake; she wasn’t going to let a horse drown, regardless of whether they were a threat or not. As she drew closer, she saw that the horse was a mare like herself, a bay, and more importantly, was certainly in a lot of distress.

Rabbit broke into a canter, but the stranger had already found land by the time she reached the lakeshore. The stranger’s piercing scream sent shivers through the dun, and she whickered back as she slowed to a walk, trying to give reassurance.

When she was at last close enough, she looked the newcomer over, concern written over her face. “Hey, it’s alright now; you made it.” She said gently to the female, her tone kind, then her eyes widened, “You nearly drowned there though, are you okay?” Typical Rabbit, her curiosity getting the better of her, though she meant well.

[deadlysecrets]

Have you every s.c.r.e.a.m.e.d. out in the dark

Her mind was telling her to travel towards the horse in the distance, but her body just couldn't do it. Her legs quivered with exhaustion and threatened to buckle under her if she took one more step. Now all she hoped was that the mare had listened to her and would come to investigate the source of the noise. Renewal was no weak horse but her body was pushed beyond their limits. Her head went back to hanging low. The grasses were long enough to tickle her nose when the slight breeze came through. She just couldn't bring herself to lift her head at this moment, even to see if the horse was coming to her or not. She had to. Only truly evil horses would ignore someone who called out for help. How could someone be cruel and live in a land that appeared as beautiful as this? yes, it was possible- she just didn't want to believe it. Renewal didn't want to entertain the thought of possibly having to run again. She was finished running for quite some time. She didn't even want to think about traveling.

Renewal's head snapped up as soon as she heard that a horse was approaching and let out a sigh of relief. The mare had listened to her call and was coming. She was close enough for Renewal to see that the mare had a dun colored coat. She could see the concern in the other mare's eyes and a stab his Renewal. She didn't like to be the mare that needed help. She liked being the strong one, the voice of reason. She had had much for reason during her journey which was why she currently looked the way she looked- slightly emaciated with a coat that needed some tender love and care to make it shine again. She was sure her eyes looked just as dull as the rest of her looked and felt. The return whicker was calming, and put her at ease. It let her know that the mare wasn't going to be a foe. She wanted to take a step, to try and meet the mare half-way, bit it just wouldn't happen. Her legs completely refused to move even an inch. So, there she stood. Unmoving. Her body shivered slightly as a small breeze came through yet again. She couldn't wait to dry off to get rid of this shiver. It was a good thing she didn't try to swim the lake in the winter time. Had it been winter she might've died during the swim due to hypothermia.

"Yes. Not my smartest move, but I needed to know I didn't travel this far for nothing." she admitted in a tired voice. The mare that had come to the rescue seemed to have a maternal air about her. It was nice to hear a comforting voice. It had been so long since there had been a comforting voice in her life. It was a nice change. "Thank-you for coming to my aid. I'm not normally crazy. Normally I have a level head." she stated with a few breaks for her to catch her breath. All it took was one sentence and she needed to take a breather. She couldn't wait until she could speak multiple sentences without sounding like she had some form of breathing disease. Renewal turned her head to look back at the lake and glared at it for a mere second. Oh how she was going to steer clear of having to get to the other side for quite some time

Thinking ||no one|| else could hear