Rambling Writings (+ Shorts)

Shimmering, Dark Dawn (Short Story)

Tall grass lit up with a shiny hem of shimmering first-light, as the birds filled their lungs with air and gave way to song. Each morning, all day creatures awoke early from their slumber, and the night folk slipped back to bed to sleep away the heat of the day. It was unspoken word not to disturb either night or day folk in their resting hours.

Among the morning haze of the forest, a small canine arose from a burrow. Charcoal in colour, the fox stretched and displayed her neat teeth in a long, silent yawn. Her grey and black muzzle shone with morning dew, even after she shook her spring coat. Another canid, much larger, approached, swishing her tail happily.

"Early for you to be up, kit." This white and grey she presented her muzzle in a smile, much to the disdain of the smaller animal.

"Well, we have plans, don't we?" The fox chuffed, greeting the wolf with a touch of noses. "Indeed we do, Phoenix. That, we do." Phoenix lifted her head to look at the alabaster she-wolf, squinting with the harshness of the light streaming through the trees. The pair walked alongside each other, quipping back and forth as they went. As they approached the edge of the forest, making their way to the lush green grasses of The Riverplains, Phoenix questioned her elder. "Fern?" She barked quietly, noticing the wolf's ears twitch. "Yes, Phoenix, you okay?" Fern replied, slowing her pace a little. "Why are we doing this, again? Pfft, I doubt she'll take kindly to me." Fern shook her head and batted Phoenix softly with her slender, yet fluffy, tail. "Kit, you'll be fine. Misty isn't the hostile type." She informed softly, looking for a shallow point in the river.

Tentatively, the pair crossed the river, the water not yet warmed to their tastes by the sun. As the sun rose up and up, they continued on, stopping to pause at a river's spring. Each canine lapped at the water source, taking their turn with the other animals of the surrounding lands. A bold elk, as tall as he was bulked with muscle, bowed his head to the white she as they left the source. "Who was that?" Phoenix smirked, waiting to humiliate her friend at a moments notice. "That was Eldermoss, kit. A very well respected, and very fair, leader of his harem." The smaller canine scoffed - pah, nothing to annoy her with! No fair.

---

High Sun had come around, and a few dozen horses stood in a field, grazing and watching over their young and elder. Two chestnut colts sparred and raced with one another, gathering strict words from their guardians when they strayed too far. One colt, the smaller of the two, whickered as he turned a corner, colliding with a dappled grey mare.

"Chester, watch where those hooves are going." Misty said gently, as the colt stood low, looking stunned. With a nudge from his friend, Chester raced off, his small hooves thudding on the firm earth.
"A fine stallion he will make, Misty." The heavy horse shuffled round to be greeted by Fern, and a smaller animal. "Yes, if he's careful with his direction!" Misty chuckled, swatting flies with her tail. She glanced down at Phoenix, extending her nose for the fox to greet. "I don't believe I have met your friend here, Fern. Hello there." Misty's voice grew warm like the dawning of a day, but Phoenix stayed guarded, her shoulders squared. "I'm Phoenix, n-nice to meet you." Slowly, she looked at the horse's powerful legs, and her nerves grew stronger. This animal could knock her flat and leave her body still.

Misty chuffed softly at the small animal, shifting her weight from her right forehoof to her left. The action spooked the young fox, who yelped and left the herd looking on, confused. Clearing her throat, and ignoring the judgemental glances of the equines now observing their meeting, Fern spoke. "Misty, I would appreciate it if I could speak with you out of earshot. It's about this kit." Phoenix scoffed - being referred to as a kit really wasn't her preference - but the whicker of a nearby mare kept her on her toes. She watched helplessly as Misty and Fern walked toward the edge of her field of view together, heads bowed in secretive conversation.

The chestnut colt rounded Phoenix, and stopped sharply in front of her. He was young, but already taller and more heavily built. Bowing her head, the fox whimpered quietly, letting the colt know his presence wasn't wanted. To her relief, Chester got the point and whickered a small goodbye before prancing off to the call of his mother. The soft tune of Misty's hooves made Phoenix stand to attention, and soon, the mare was just a fox-length in front of her. "I hear you possess... powers." The mare's tone was flat, making Phoenix drop her tail between her legs. Unsure of what to say, she simply twitched her paws, waiting for a break in the moment.

But it didn't come.

"Phoenix?" Fern cooed, looking on at her smaller companion with unease. Phoenix's shoulders were squared, and at the snap of a twig, the vixen growled with her jaws agape, spooking Misty with bright red eyes. Fern dashed forward, taking the vixen in a grip by her scruff, but this only increased her energy twicefold. Phoenix lashed and slashed at Fern, causing her to cry out in pain and jump back from her. Other mares had rushed to the aid of Misty, and stood comforting the trembling heavy horse.

One stallion, his eyes as brown as the bark of a sturdy pine, approached the small canine. Phoenix had saliva dripping off of her primary fangs, and her growl got louder with every step the stallion took towards her. Quicker than she could act, he took one swift kick at the kit, sending her unconscious into the tall grass. "What was that for?" Fern snarled, looking at the stallion with her tail raised in warning as she stood over Phoenix.

"Fernkiss," the obsidian horse spoke, with gravel in his tone. "As loyal as you are true, what is your purpose with this fox? I'm sure you can understand my displeasure at her display of behaviour." Fern saw Misty approaching gently, out of the corner of her eye, and cleared her throat to speak. "I asked after Misty, to aid us in getting Phoenix to her kind. It is a long journey, and she is young and inexperienced with navigation. I was hoping to take her to Scarletstar." As the stallion looked at Misty, the mare nodded. "Sire, that is exactly what Fern asked of me. She also explained the kit is somewhat vulnerable. She's just scared, Kith, let me go with them and return when it is done." Fern nodded and looked at Kith, as the stallion looked back at her as if deep in thought.

"Scarletstar, being a fox herself, will surely take in the young one. I'm sure of it." He spoke firmly, turning to Misty. "You may go, as long as we may follow in your hoofsteps. We will not leave you three to travel on unaided." A few mares nodded their agreement to his words. His obsidian hooves moved him back towards the rest of the herd as he went to explain their new movement. Misty nuzzled Fern to ease, and kneeled so that Phoenix could be placed on her back for the journey.

"You ready, Fern?" She took great care as she stood, so as not to tip the fox off.

"Ready when the herd is."

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For a friend. :) I hope you enjoy, Kayla!
Phoenix is Kayla's OC. You are politely reminded not to copy any description of her.