Sleepy Fox Hollow pyroclast

the mare had to admit to herself that despite the vague annoyance which still sparked when she saw their new band stallion, it was good to have his watchful eye.

she and fancy hadn't starved, but now they were free to put on some solid, lasting weight, almost too late in the season. selenia had become round and ponderous, pawing grass out of the snow as often as she was able to keep her constant meals.

you keep your men? a doe had asked her the day before, lingering at the treeline while selenia chewed frozen blades of sedge beside a lake. "don't you?" the mare had retorted, though her counterpart's question had been amusing. not in the same way. they only fight in one season. your men will fight in every month.

it was a sobering thought and while she and that doe had parted pleasantly, the memory of the scarred, warring stallions remained fresh in her mind.

today she lifted her head, perhaps glancing for him now.

Silverbirch was done with the snow.

It had been fun, for a hot minute- pretty, too. She liked the sound it made under her hooves, and the sound thin ice on small puddles made as she broke it. She did enjoy eating the icicles that hung from trees until one of them gave her a brain freeze; yes, she was done with the snow now.

She limped as she walked toward her mother, her ears splayed out toward the sides and her lips pulled tight. She kicked out after each step of her right fore, until at last the snowball which had built up against the sole of her foot was dislodged and sent flying. It landed in a clump of bushes which rattled, and cause the filly to spook with a small, upset squeal.

"dear one," selenia said, swinging round with her ears cupped forward, "why don't you come tell me about your travels."

their little band was slowly growing, though she glanced again for the stallion and a third time for the one who had lost.

it was quite likely he might show up again, but selenia for now was weary of devoting all her attention against such things. leisurely she preened silverbirch's shoulder, hoping to relax her daughter after all the change.

MaaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAUUMMMMM She complained, her mother's warm invitation opening up a conversation which would absolutely begin with complaints. I hate this ssssstuff, how long's it gonna laaast for? She complained, her voice high and nasal. She whisked her thin tail, the lengthening hairs rattling like a poorly handled whip. She grunted at the suggestion that she divulge her travels. Fancy was the one who told stories, not her. 

Feeling particularly sooky and grumpy, she nevertheless moved closer to her mother, at first seeking reassurance.  She bumped her muzzle against Selenia's suspiciously rounded side before she paused, and fiendishly dipped her head below her mother's flank, searching for a teat even though she knew she would likely find no milk.

Sometimes the best consolation was pushing buttons just to get a reaction.

she allowed it out of surprise, but soon her ears pinned; selenia stomped at silverbirch. "you know better than that," she sniped, skin shuddering indignantly at the audacity of her girl. however in the next moment, the mare's irritation had passed and she sighed. "come here."

debris, leaf litter; she pulled them from the spiky mane. "it will last for months. just when you get used to it is when it'll start to go away, and then we can go back to the flatlands."

on impulse she snorted warm air over silverbirch's face and then gave a squeal, trying to entice the yearling into a run along the edge of the lake.

Mission accomplished, she got a reaction out of her mother, and responded with a shrill squeal of her own, tossing her head and wheeling to flick her ankles out at her mother’s hocks twice- only to find that she was too close to her mother for her hooves to land, and simply ended up bumping her round booty against her mother’s flank before she snorted and crow-hopped in a circle, that would place her lowered head beneath her mother’s neck. 

She nibbled Selenia’s wooly chest fur as her mother plucked a few twigs from her mane. Her words weren’t exactly reassuring. I’m not gonna get used to it, She declared. 

She blinked as warm, moist breath fanned over her eyelashes. She made one nip for her mother’s jawbone before she danced out of reach. She kicked one more clod of snow from her hooves- coincidentally striking the sorrel lead mare square on her butt cheek and provoking a shrill complaint. 

Shit! She whispered, and bolted after her Mom.

they raced merrily along the frozen dunes of snow, down to crunching clods where the buckskin mare performed a neater turn than she had thought was able.

a squeal brought up playful heels; she stretched her gait outright now, challenging silverbirch's youth to her own stamina at a race.

joy dazzled selenia, a deep happiness brought at last of safety.