Crisp and clean - that was how the land looked. The air felt that way as well, nipping at ones pelt if stood still too long, the cold seeping in and chilling the flesh, especially in the shade, the thin winter sun casting only a little warmth. It was the turn of the year, one into the next and Nalani had slipped away from her chaperone, her elder brother Kodah having a mind to shadow her whenever he could as he worried about her being 'taken advantage of'.
That morning she'd slipped away whilst he was breakfasting, determined to take a turn out on her own, walk her usual paths, and listen to the birdsong of those that were hardy enough not to have to migrate. If she had only kept quiet about the stallion she had come across months ago, about how she found him to be pleasant company, Kodah might not have taken it upon himself to act this way. She would have a quiet word with their mother, Nivriti, and hope that he would listen to their dear mother, and understand that because she spoke in warm tones about someone, did not mean she considered herself engaged to them. She hoped herself more sensible than that!
With neat and careful steps, she trotted down a hard, mud path, hooves echoing on the frozen ground, tail held high so as not to dirty the ends, the base of it long unadorned as she could find no flowers at this time of the year. She missed the flowers, but the winter had a beauty of its own and she was determined to enjoy it, and anyones company that she happened to come across on her walk. Of course this time she would keep her counsel and not speak of particular Soquilis, well, not to her (well meaning) siblings.
This is mind, she turned at a fork in the path and followed the left fork down a slight incline, where it ended near an open area, bare limbed trees dotted the right side, and a partially frozen lake stretched to the left. She headed for the lake, giving the ice a fascinated sniff when she was close enough to do so, marvelling as usual at how hard and fragile ice was, before straightening, shaking out her mane and looking around to see who else was in the immediate vicinity.
