The Pale Light of Dawn {o}

[Ehetere]

It was quiet; that peaceful, slow moving time before all the birds and insects begin to crawl from their nests and before the day time creatures stirred. The occasional peep from such a creature could be heard, restless for the day to begin. It was the pale light of dawn that revealed the dusky grey coat of an old mare of the bush moving silently like a creeping kangaroo.

Muyan had lived for many, many seasons now. Her once rosy hide was paling by the year, losing it’s colour as it faded away to white and grey hues. It still retained just a touch of its former glory this spring, the tinge of rose grey from a bygone era. Her legs and mane were a similar shade of dusky brown, the remnants of a coat that had allowed a wise mare to hide and escape from any enemy like a ghost. Now though, she was more noticeable as she moved like a pale shadow through the landscape, flickering in and out of focus.

She sniffed the damp air, heavy with fog in the cool air, testing. The smells and scents of the bush mingled about her; a possum, a wombat, a kangaroo. The sweet scent of golden wattle flowers in bloom, coupled with scarlet red and sunset pink gum blossoms. The scents of spring. There was the stale old scent of horses still, but they were very old and certainly none had passed by here recently.

She stood still for a few moments still, looking, listening for any sounds of movement. There was nothing but the occasional breath of wind in the trees and the gentle song of leaves brushing against one another. Satisfied she was safe, the dusky rose mare moved from her cover in the trees and out into the open plain. There was a welcome bubbling from Cascade Creek as it ran through the clearing, racing over rocks and tinkling as it dropped into deeper pools. Thirsty, she moved into an elegant canter, her old legs guiding her unerringly despite her age and still distinctively leggy.

Dipping her nose to drink, she took a long draught of the ice cold water, savoring the taste of the mountains. She’d been wandering on her own for quite some time now, after Tingara’s death and the disbanding of his herd. She knew a new King had taken his place; a Nightrunner no less. She had no interest in chasing after him, as some of Tingara’s mares did. She had never joined the black’s herd for his position, and besides, she was no young handsome filly. Her life in a herd was likely over for good, not that the mare minded all that much. She’d always been a wanderer, and explorer.

Thinking of these things brought up memories of her leggy bay daughter, her first with the black stallion. Muyan wondered what had become of her daughter since she had left the protection of the herd to take her wonderfully coloured half brother on adventures of her own. Muyan had no doubt her daughter would not have been caught by the stockmen – even when she’d left as a yearling she’d looked fast and willowy, and Muyan had taught her all the wisdom of the bush she could. She merely wondered whether the pair who had been so close as foals could possibly still be together, or whether they had gone their separate ways. Perhaps her daughter had a stallion now, and perhaps a foal. She’d have to look out for her.

[E!]

The spring was a lovely time of year, what with flowers blossoming and the rivers and creeks bursting with the snow melt. The scent of life was in the air, fresh with damp earth and heady flowers, and Ekala was enjoying the warm sunshine on her dark blue roan back. Moving silently through the bush, a wispy shadow, the old roan mare slipped toward Cascade Creek happily, neat hooves careful not to leave any trace behind her - she was comfortable now, to just wander about finding food for herself and Eumina, her adopted daughter.

At the thought of the filly, Ekala pursed her darkened lips. She was a pretty thing, so delicate and graceful - but Ekala worried for her safety. She was so petite and fragile! Ekala had tried, and failed, to put some meat on the sweet fillies body. It had to be her genetic makeup, Ekala had eventually decided, and chose to leave the filly be. Ekala herself was sturdily built, still beautiful, but more solid.. more so now in her old age. Delight crossed the mares features as she heard the chuckling of the creek ahead, and she broke into a bouncy trot, careful to keep her eyes open for any warning of a stallion.

It was not that Ekala minded the company of a kindly stallion, or disliked the idea of joining a small herd, but it was not her choice that mattered - it was Eumina's. And that aspect had proven difficult in the past. Eumina had developed an awful fright of stallions, and Ekala had no idea how to change that, but to avoid contact of them until Eumina was comfortable of their presence.. something Ekala was not confident would happen.

Pausing before she broke through the cover of the snowgums, Ekala saw a rose grey mare ahead. Being a friendly mare, if sometimes blunt with her words, Ekala relished the occasional chat with fellow mares - especially when they were her own age, as it appeared this mare was. Her shrill, eager neigh was quieter than usual, as Spring was a dangerous time, as well as beautiful, what with stallions and men about. Revealing herself, Ekala trotted slowly toward the other mare, stopping to a stand still on the opposite side of the creek. "Be careful going through the Bogong, I've heard the men are eager to catch brumbies this Spring. No doubt they'll try and hit the places with the best grazing" Hoping she had not intruded on anything special for the rose grey, Ekala dropped her sooty nose to the water of the creek.

Relishing the sweet water as it trickled down her throat, Ekala gave a whicker to Eumina, telling her all was well. Lifting her eyes to the opposite side of the creek where the well built, beautiful mare stood, Ekala flicked her ears to and fro before speaking again "I am Ekala, and this - " she tossed her blue head toward Eumina comfortably "Is Eumina"

[Ehetere]

A shrill whinny split the cool air, and Muyan whipped her head up, ears alert for danger. Taking a deep breath, she located the scent of a mare and her foal who were emerging from the trees, but no other horses, so she relaxed her tense pose for a more friendly welcoming one.

The mare was an old blue roan, solidly built but pleasant enough to look at; making Muyan wonder whether there was indeed a stallion lurking about. She was no young mare, and had no wish to return to the ways of herd life, instead content to live out the rest of her days exploring and remembering the many beauties of the high country. She was hardly the most attractive specimen herself, but all the same it never hurt to be on the look out.

The young filly beside the more robust roan was the prettiest thing you ever did see – delicate like a snowflake and just as tiny. Her mother must have been proud to birth such a beautiful little creature – Muyan herself could never boast of such an achievement. Uralla was possibly her finest looking offspring, and she was but a plain bay. This filly was a pale red like the bronze lichen that grew on rocks after months in the sun, and had a smattering of snow white markings. A stunning looking creature to say the least.

Muyan nodded in recognition of the other mare’s advice – wisdom should always be absorbed and remembered so a brumby might live to see the end of its life still in the high mountains. She was not a mare of many words at the best of times, and this would be no exception. Nickering her own low greeting to the little filly who looked oh so vulnerable, Muyan glanced at the sky where a whistling kite flew overhead – a good omen. Today was to be glorious.

Turning her calm gaze back over the creek, the blue roan mare introduced herself as Ekala, and the filly Eumina. “I am Muyan,” she replied nodding once more. Eumina – the filly’s name was as delicate as her owner. “Is your stallion near by?”

[Tiggs]

Eumina followed Ekala gladly. On days like this, she put her hooves in the tracks of her minder and paced the roan mare’s pace exactly. She could let her mind go blank then. She found if she let her mind wander, it would take her to frightening places, when shadowy stallions chased her and colts on the winds trapped her. She could become quite distressed at times, and only Ekala’s warm comforting touch could sooth her.

On this nice spring day, the fragile filly trotted behind Ekala, following her blindly out into the open. Only when she realised there was another brumby did her pale blue eyes flicker up and stop staring blankly into the distance. Reassured it was no stallion or colt, she came to stand beside Ekala and for lack of anything else to do, stood stoic and impassive.

At the stranger’s mention of a stallion though, it was like she had been struck with lightning! Her small head threw high into the air, tossing her pale red and white mane. Her crystalline eyes rolled wide in fear, and she looked about her franticly as if there were a stallion there. She sidestepped into Ekala, not making a noise though her dainty nostrils flared and her lip quivered as if she would be whinnying.

It was safe to say that the frail young filly was somewhat petrified of stallions.