Solitude {Nandalie}

[Ehetere]

Binda snuffled appreciatively as Nandalie began to groom her neck. This was certainly a pleasant experience that any horse would have missed in the lone company of their consciences. She stretched her neck and made an appreciative snuffling sound.

Though only further confirmation came about the lack of movement dampened her spirits slightly, Binda did think about the merits of having a fairly constant grazing ground, and the strength it must have taken to hold it. The Bull was a rocky place, but for horses who knew how to make their way around it many good grazing spots could be found.

She instinctively stiffened when Nandalie mentioned her pervious stallion. He seemed to have meant no harm by it, but oh there indeed was harm. Binda knew that this could not go on, and that she needed to move on in her life, but some things were very hard to let go of.

“Through ill-fortune,” she replied with a sadness in her heart, and a glumness spreading over her features. Would she be forever cursed with these feelings and memories?

[Tiggs]

Nandalie paused enough in his grooming to contemplate that tone. The subject was not one she liked, and he was not going to press it. Perhaps later, when he had gained her trust, he would tell her. To hopefully comfort her, he nosed her back with a practiced ease. Grooming his mares was a favourite pastime of his, and he wondered where her favourite place to be scratched was. Every mare had one, in his experience.

The storm was rolling in, and the sky was darkening quickly. The first drops of rain hit the pair, and Nandalie huffed and looked to the charcoal sky. “Would you like to take shelter in the trees, or would the rain on your back sooth you?” He sometimes liked to stand in the rain, let it bite into his coat and take away all the dirt in runnels down his flanks. The weather was not too cold yet, but it was the comfort of Binda that concerned him.

[Ehetere]

Binda wondered whether he would question her further, and perhaps want to learn of her full past. She was sure she would not be able to cope and would have to leave then. But she couldn’t… the situation seemed impossible.

Fortunately, in a sensitive and perceptive move, Nandalie understood it was not a subject she could contemplate right now, and he returned to that lovely grooming of his. Binda relaxed again, although there was still a slight remnant of tenseness about her.

The air itself was tense and heavy now, and the promise of a storm was a certainty by now. A large drop landed on her rump, and it was rather warm. “I think perhaps I will take shelter, although it looks as if we may be rather soaked no matter where we stand,” she replied, also gazing up at the sky.

She was cool from having sweated so much in nervousness and fright, and had no real wish to get any wetter than she already was. Still the rain might serve the purpose of getting rid of the sweat streaks that had begun to form on her neck.

Hobbling over as best she could, she slouched under the shade of the tree in the early twilight, leaning up against Nandalie’s roaned side for support once more.

[Tiggs]

Nandalie gave a nod. The rain would indeed soak them if this was to be a persistent storm. And by the look of the sky, it might take a while to pass. The prospect of staying so long with Binda was not unpleasant, and he gently nosed her rump as he followed her into the trees. He crowded close again as they settled, and resumed his grooming to the soundtrack of the increasing rain.

An idea occurred to him, and he gently nosed her lamed leg. “How much further do you think you can walk? I know of a place not far from here where the rain will not bother us.” He trailed his nose over her neck, taking advantage of the closeness she allowed him with tender nuzzled and nips.

In the gathering dusk, accentuated by the heavy storm clouds, he was as excited as a colt at the thought of spending time with a mare, and he could not resist breathing warm air from his nostrils into hers. She was quite a find, and he already enjoyed her company immensely.

[Ehetere]

She shook her mane to try and rid it of the already accumulating droplets of rain. She did wonder, if she was going back to his herd with him, how long it would take to get there with her leg in this condition. Traveling would be slow, very slow, especially with the Bull’s notoriously rocky crags that so disadvantaged men on their tame horses.
“I can still walk,” replied Binda, for her leg was still stiffening up and she would be able to travel a short way, even if it meant momentary pain. Still it meant avoiding the heavy down pour that was looming over head.

“Lead the way,” she said, gritting her teeth and preparing her leg for a little more aggravation yet before it could rest. It was probably a good thing they were going somewhere warm and dry.

[Tiggs]

“Alright.” Nandalie would be sure not to let the mare over exert herself, and so he led a slow pace through the trees along and overgrown roo path. It was not more than a few minutes and thunder crack later that they came to a rock overhang with enough room underneath for two horses to comfortably shelter.

“I found this many years ago, though it doesn’t seem to see much use.” He directed Binda underneath, and took up station beside her. “How is your leg?” He asked, lowering his head trustingly near her hooves to inspect it. It was still caked in mud, so with a careful touch, he began to groom it away. It did not come away easily, and he more smeared it than removed it.

He huffed to himself, and rubbed his muddy lips on his shoulder before touching his nose to hers. “When the storm has passed, I would like you to answer a question for me. You do not need to answer now, but I am going to ask you to join my herd. Will you think about it?”

[Ehetere]

She followed Nandalie through the tress and underbrush, having a lo more difficulty than she usually would. Lifting her leg upwards in particular caused the most discomfort, so she tried to sort of slide it along the ground. Of course, that was a little difficult for any horse trying to push their way through an over grown tunnel, so she pushed forward as best she could.

Up ahead she spotted a convenient overhanging rock, and guessed that this was their destination. Hobbling underneath it, she sighed as she relaxed and took the weight off her sore leg.

“A little sore, and it’ll probably get worse before it gets better,” replied Binda, also having a good look at it herself. She didn’t think she had cut it in any way – that would sting, but Nandalie was trying to clean it off just in case. Prodding it hurt though, which was why she hadn’t tried anything yet, but she didn’t say so. Nandalie didn’t exactly have very much success, only succeeding in covering his own muzzle in the dark mud.

“I will think about it,” replied Binda concealing her own secretive smile. In truth, she had already decided this, but keeping Nandalie in suspense seemed rather more appropriate.

[Tiggs]

Nandalie gave a nod, and nibbled her shoulder. “I’m glad.” If Binda were to join him, his herd would be near to bursting in size, and he knew that if Binda was to be the last mare to join him for the rest of his days, he could not think of a better addition.

He found himself going back to grooming her back and withers, smoothing down her coat and easing out the moisture that had gathered there in their brief stint in the rain. The storm rumbled above them, and with an almighty flash and crack that illuminated the pair, the rain came down in a sudden deluge. Nandalie barely even flicked an ear at the colossal sound, concentrating instead on keeping Binda calm.

His administrations were warm, and he was finding it increasingly difficult to keep his composure. Nandalie’s muzzle lingered every time he reached the base of her spine before he would return to her withers and start the grooming process all over again. Binda had given him no signs, other than accepting his company for the storm that she showed any excess interest in him, but she had also not sent him away.

[Ehetere]

The sound of the storm was well and truly around them now, with the hammering rain and cracks of thunder. Binda was not afraid of storms, only silly horses were really. She closed her eyes though, for the sudden and bright flashes of lightning had her almost flinching for they had no warning. Nandalie’s constant grooming did help her steady her nerves though, and she nickered appreciatively.

She turned to Nandalie then, gently lipping at his ears. “I will join your herd,” she whispered into his ears, playfully pulling at his forelock. She nuzzled him affectionately, thanking him for both his excellent grooming skills and a safe home sometime in the near future. He had no idea how much the idea of safety and certainty meant to her.

[Tiggs]

Together they stood in the storm, and Nandalie rested close to the smoky brown mare, content with her warmth and company. He could not help imagining her standing with his herd, and when she whispered those magic words, he felt a flush of warmth. He nickered softly and nosed her cheek. “I am glad.” He said again, and rested his head over her withers and the storm went on.

There was a friendship and trust building here, and in the depth of the storm-filled night, they shared something more that was reserve for only a stallion and his mare. They might have dozed a while afterward, but Nandalie was awake long before the crest of dawn. The storm had passed, and the moon lit up only a few remaining clouds. Water still dripped down the rocks, and it collected in puddles on the ground.

The birds soon began to sing, and dawn was then upon them. When she stirred, Nandalie nosed her tenderly and pressed his flank to hers. “It is the morning, I must gather my herd. Will your leg permit travel, or should I meet you here in half a day?” He asked, voice low and soft. In daylight, she was a wonderful sight, and he nibbled at her ruffled mane affectionately.