Snowflakes and Sanctuary

Cold. It was cold, and she was lost. It wasn't the snow’s fault. Well, actually it was the snow’s fault, but she liked snow, and didn’t want to blame the storm. No, she’d just gotten distracted. Lost track. One moment, the other three horses were ahead of her, the glowing lights decorating their coats making it easier to follow them through the steadily falling flakes. The next, they were gone, and she’d followed the hoof prints as far as she could before even that evidence was erased from the ground. Standing still as the snow settled on her back, Grace looked from side to side. Now what? She wondered. The wind rushed by her ears, rustling her mane and drowning out all sound but for her own breathing. Mist plumed when she exhaled and was whisked away by the blizzard.

Standing still would soon turn her into a snow-horse, something she didn’t think would be entirely enjoyable, so she began moving again, choosing a direction at random and pacing through the steadily piling snow. The drifts puffed and sparkled around her legs, the glimmering lights of her coat setting the flakes aglitter. Despite the chill, she moved easily and with confidence she didn’t fully feel. There had to be something out here, right? Other than frozen rivers. Or cliffs. Or big rocks hidden by the snow. Or—okay, stop that, she told herself firmly. It wasn’t a productive train of thought in the slightest. At first, she thought the shadow she kept seeing from the corner of her eye was just a trick of the storm. But it persisted. It was tempting to pick up the pace and force whatever it was to give chase, but since she didn’t know the terrain and preferred to keep her legs whole, she rejected the idea.

Instead, Grace planted all four feet and slid to a stop. “Well? Are you going to show yourself? Or are you going to continue being mysterious?” If it was a predator, she’d be in trouble. Oh yes, she was a Nordanner. A dragon hunting weapon, even. Except for the part where she had no formal training, nor the warrior’s heart for it. She was a determined competitor, but when it came to dragons, that was an entirely different story. She’d run support for several hunts, carrying supplies, gear, and whatever the party needed in the event of injuries, but never faced down one on her own. The thought was not pleasing. She pawed at the ground nervously, waiting for some sort of dragon to pop out of the snow like a damn daisy and try to turn her into dinner.

What emerged from the white-out was not a dragon, however. No, it was another horse. A Nordanner. His coat was dark, distinctively marked with the spots of a clouded leopard, and his piercing blue eyes caught her attention immediately. Her ears swung forward.

“I do enjoy being mysterious.” His voice rolled to her on the wind, deep and throaty. “But I did not mean to frighten you.” She began to object, to tell him he most certainly did not, but he most certainly had, and so she swallowed the words before they could escape. Silence stretched between them. Her tail twitched.

“Well? What are you doing, then?” she finally asked him. The smile lit his eyes, softening the sharp lines of his face.

“Offering you a place to stay,” he said, and when he turned she caught sight of his long tail. “If you wish, of course,” he called back over his shoulder. Grace snorted and fell into step with him, the warmth of his shoulder marking his place as the snow swirled around them. When she drifted too far to the side, he guided her back with that tail so as not to lose her to the storm again.

“Anything is preferable to being stuck out here,” she said. “Except maybe a cave.” He cast her an amused look but did not reply. “…please tell me you don’t live in a cave.” And were there others? Was he alone?

“I do not live in a cave,” he said, and she narrowed her eyes at him. He tossed his head to remove the gathering of snow on his nose. “What is your name?”

“Grace,” she said. Fitting, he thought.

“Mystere,” he said for himself. Figures, she thought. Mysterious, indeed. The ground changed under their feet, taking on a subtle incline. The two of them leaned into it, companionable silence settling in as they dedicated their energy to the climb. When they reached the top, he stopped, and she halted to stare in shock.

The little valley below them was beautiful, and completely visible. Oh, the snow still fell, but it was as if a protective ring surrounded it and the horses inside, keeping the worst of it away. Heads popped up as the two Nordanners were silhouetted against the swirling flakes.

“What is this place?” she asked her guide, shaking her head as if a good jolt might make it disappear again.

“Sanctuary,” he replied. “Home.” There was a sort of satisfaction in his voice. “You’re welcome to stay with us as long as you like,” he said, and drifted down the hill in a cloak of snow and mist, allowing her space to make a choice.

“Wait! How did you even know where to find me?” she called after him. He didn’t look back.

“I knew,” he said, and then he was too far away to continue the conversation. A black horse with glittering gold markings was staring intently at her.

“Oooh,” Gold said.

“Down, boy,” Heartbreaker instructed. He shot her a dirty look as Selenae coughed on a laugh.

“Not another one,” Natjfer muttered. His mother nudged his shoulder in quiet rebuke.

“I dare you to tell Mystere he doesn’t need to bring everyone he finds home with him,” Heartbreaker suggested. Even Nat’s ears pinned at that. If one was to challenge Mystere, one should be very ready to get his own ass handed to him. Minus the platter. Ain’t nobody got time for that.

“Shhh, she’s coming!”

Indeed, the champagne mare was picking her way down the hill. Her decision had been made. “Shake off the snow and stay a while,” Gold called to her. She crossed over the boundary and did just that. It was warmer here, too, she realized. The herd of Nordanners was sizeable, but it seemed no one would question Mystere’s choice in allowing her to come with him. In fact, most of them looked pleased enough to see her. Was it really that easy to be accepted into a family? She had friends, her sweet temperament making that easy, but a family? No, that was something rare. Special. Perhaps it would be worth staying just to find out. Conversation washed over her as the mares and stallions welcomed her into their group, eager to know where she’d come from and what news she might have of Aleria outside their valley. Yes, she thought as she fielded a question about the journey she’d just taken. I think I’ll stay a while.