This Is Where I Belong
To her surprise, the palomino mare didn't escort the little black filly back to Wild Wind's herd but over to the forest that was close by. The sun had begun to set and evening was slowly beginning to creep in, which the mare knew meant that it wouldn't be long before the wolves would crawl out of their dens to start a fresh night's hunting. The forest was hardly a safe haven from these voracious carnivores, but it was more sheltered than the open plains by a long shot. Until they made it to the safety of their herds, both horses were extremely vulnerable out in the open. The filly was completely clueless on how to survive without her herd, as she was too young yet to have been taught valuable life lessons from her mother. Once she was older and reflected upon her youth, she would come to see that her mother really didn't care to teach her anything significant of the world. The palomino's soft muzzle and warm body calmed her, though, as the mare led the youngster to a sheltered thicket deep among the trees. As they had walked there slowly, the horses had passed a number of small woodland creatures who were coming out to forage in the soft twilight. A red fox began chasing after a quail which was running literally for its life while a grey squirrel was scurrying around in the branches for nuts before going into its warm dray for the night. Questions were still circling the young filly's mind when she lay down beside the mare in the thicket.
"Why did you call me Dynasty before?" she asked eventually, "I've had no name before. Wild Wind has merely regarded me as one of his daughters whereas my mother barely looks at me never mind acknowledges my existence." The mare's eyes shone with the same warmth they had earlier that day when the filly had first looked into them, but now the moonlight which filtered through the trees seemed to illuminate them even further. It slightly unnerved the young female, as she was only used to being cast looks of disgust or coldness.
"Wild Wind speaks higher of you than you know, little Dynasty," the mare replied softly, "he describes you as his dynasty to the plains and the world. No other horse he has sired has possessed so much of his fire and spirit, you're truly more special than you realise. I thought Dynasty would be a fitting name to address you with as such when I found you on the open plains alone earlier today." The filly was at a loss for words at this revelation. It had never occurred to her that her father would have a great sense of pride in her. She lay her head down so it was resting against the mare's soft and gentle legs which housed tremendous strength when needed. The day's events had taken a lot out of her and she felt her eyes grow heavy.
"If I may ask, what is your name?" Dynasty asked sleepily. The palomino lay her head down so that her neck encircled the filly, offering her protection against whatever was out there.
"I am called Opalana, young Dynasty," she whickered in response, "now, get sleep my little one. Tomorrow, you will be returned to your herd." The mare went to sleep before Dynasty did, as her thoughts wandered restlessly. With this mare, she had found in the space of a few hours more tenderness and maternal love than her own mother had shown her in over two years. The thought of leaving the side of this beautiful and sensitive motherly figure didn't rest well in her young and stubborn heart.
I hear the wind across the plain
A sound so strong - that calls my name
It's wild like the river - it's warm like the sun
Ya it's here - this is where I belong
Under the starry skies - where eagles have flown
This place is paradise - it's the place I call home
The moon on the mountains
The whisper through the trees
The waves on the water
Let nothing come between this and me
Cuz everything I want - is everything that's here
And when we're all together - there's nothing to fear
And wherever I wander - the one thing I've learned
It's to here - I will always...always return
Dynasty didn't realise she had fell asleep until she awoke the next morning. The sun was just climbing into the sky and Opalana was already wide awake. The mare was watching the young filly patiently and didn't appear in any hurry to rush Dynasty back to her herd. In time, she would look back and come to see that Opalana was looking out for her in a motherly way and offering her protection from some of the harshness that the world could hit out at her. Once Dynasty was wide awake, Opalana stood up and the filly followed as they made their way silently from the thicket. It always took Dynasty's breath away when she saw the sun rise above the open grasslands, enhancing their wide expanse and making them look so inviting to race across. As if reading her mind, Opalana placed one of her fore hooves in front of the eager filly and that immediately brought Dynasty out of her trance.
"We really should be getting back to Wild Wind's herd," she said gently but firmly, "I can tell you want to run across the plains to wherever the sun leads you, but your father will be worried. Come, we can race back to your herd as fast as you like." This prevented Dynasty from feeling too frustrated and almost annoyed with her caretaker as the two horses burst out from the forest and galloped across the open expanse of the plains. The feeling of the wind rushing past her face as it caused her mane to billow out behind her like a cloud of black smoke, the way the landscape flashed past her eyes as she ran and especially the sight of Opalana racing beside Dynasty, matching her pace for pace gave the filly an undeniable rush of sheer pleasure. Her own mother had never raced with her like this before and Wild Wind had maintained something of a detached distance from Dynasty for most of her young life. It amazed her how her own flesh and blood didn't seem to have much time for to share in the filly's pleasures of life, yet here there was a beautiful mare that wasn't part of her herd that had shown she was more than happy to share in the things Dynasty loved most in life. As Dynasty could see the majestic presence of Wild Wind standing on top of a hill, her heart sank slightly as she knew the time would soon come that she would have to part ways with Opalana. To her surprise, the stallion didn't move an inch to address both her and her palomino protector. He was happy to remain standing stock still until they had stopped just a few feet in front of him.
"Opalana, it's good to see you again," he whickered in a softness Dynasty had never heard come from her father before, "I should have known that you had taken it upon yourself to find my daughter." As he said this, Wild Wind cast a stern eye over his black protégée. She could only look away, ashamed at fleeing from the herd in such a manner the previous day. She hardly expected to feel a reassuring nuzzle from the mare standing beside her, but that's what Dynasty got and it lifted her spirits a little.
"It is good to see you too, Wild Wind," she responded politely, "I was just out in the area that young Dynasty had found herself to be in by chance and I wanted to ensure she arrived back in your care safely." Wild Wind's eyes widened momentarily as he heard the palomino refer to his daughter with a name. He snorted his surprise and slight indignation at this development.
"You felt it appropriate to name my daughter while she was in your care?" he snorted angrily. To Dynasty's surprise, the previously benevolent and mild mannered mare at her side now had her ears back and her teeth bared. Perhaps Opalana was more aware of things between the filly and her parents than she herself was aware of. Whatever had caused these displays of aggression from the palomino mare was unknown then to Dynasty, but she wasn't altogether sure if she liked it.
"I named your daughter because neither you nor her mother felt it fit to give her one yourselves!" Opalana's piercing neigh of anger broke the still morning air, "every horse that runs free knows of your affection for this little one, yet she had no idea herself. How could she have, when you refused to give her a name! She is of your dynasty, hence that is the name she now carries!" Dynasty waited with bated breath to see if Wild Wind would attack and punish the palomino heavily for her daring to face off against him. She had never seen the stallion let any horse, stallion or mare, walk away from standing up to him without some injury of sort. However, her father merely nudged Opalana away from Dynasty's side and he stood there.
"Well, I appreciate you bringing her back to me safely, Opalana," he whickered softly, "I'll make sure she gets back to the herd from this point." He escorted Dynasty over the hill to where the herd were grazing and she could only look back at Opalana's form as it faded into the distance. Her heart sank as she watched the beautiful golden form disappear behind the hill.