Welcome to Gaia! ::

When the mare awoke that morning, the sun had barely peeked across the sky. She stretched and stepped out from under the trees which sheltered her from the cold and into the snow. Spring was on the horizon, signs appearing in the form of warmer days and budding flowers beneath the snow still blanketed the ground. She trots slowly down towards a nearby creek, the water had melted just enough for wildlife to get a drink of the chilly liquid. As she took a drink, something tickled her nose.

She pulled back from the water to see, and was shocked to see a little mouse! It was cold and tired, and had stopped to quench its thirst but had unfortunately fell into the water. The mare stood, looking at the small creature as it crawled out of the water, shivering.

For a moment, she considered leaving the little creature to their own devices- it wasn't her business. This year, however, was a new year and she had decided she wanted to be kinder, to rely on others more and allow them to rely on her more. Gently, she reaches down and allows the mouse to grab onto her mane and scramble out of the water. "Its okay. You must be freezing, aren't you? Climb up, get warm." She says to the small creature. The mouse scurries up, clinging and shivering, and hides amongst the warm hair.

The cold, wet form of the mouse made the mare shiver but she didn't mind. A spot of cold on her neck was nothing to the mouse being cold all over. The mouse, after a moment, squeaks "t-t-thank you." She says, mouth chattering from the chill as the mare carried her back to the warmth of the trees she had been sleeping under. "It is okay. Stay a while, it is far too cold out." She says, moving to lay upon the ground that kept her warm all night.

They lay there for a while, the mouse slowly drying and growing warmer under the warmth of the mares mane. When the sun was up and fully shining, the mare stepped out once more into the sunshine, and began to graze upon a patch of grass no longer covered in snow. the mouse crept out and ontop of the mares back, enjoying the warmth of the sun upon her.

The mouse couldn't help but ask, "Miss Mare, where is your herd? Horses travel in groups, correct?" She says, curiously. The mare pauses mid-graze, ears flicking, and lifts her head. She thinks over what to say, before finally she settles on "I do not have one. I was separated from them during a snow storm when the heavy snow fell. I had hopes to find them again, but I fear I may never at this rate. I may have to find a new one to join instead." She says slowly, sadly. Her grief was silent, but the tenseness in her words and form told the story of pain and loss her words did not.

The mouse hums, and pats the mares back gently in sympathy whilst she lay upon it. "Oh. I'm sorry. I'm alone too." She says simply. A moment passes, then two, and she perks up - "Maybe we can travel together! We can find your herd, and I won't be alone!" She squeaks, excited at this prospect.

The little mouse sat up, bouncing in her spot in glee at the idea she had proposed. "I can stay with you and keep warm, and you'll get an extra set of eyes to look for your herd! When spring comes, we can ask all the creatures who come out for the new season if they've seen anything! And I can climb trees and tell you if I see anything!" She babbles, excited and encouraged by having someone to talk to for once, and by the sun shining on her, chasing away the cold freeze that nearly claimed her hours prior.

The mare froze. She hadn't planned for this, for the little mouse to travel with her. She had thought she'd be alone until she found her herd, or alone altogether if she hadn't. She was never the sort to let herself rely on others for help, even with her herd she had been very independent. They had often told her she needed to open up and let them be there for her more. It wasn't that she didn't want to, but she just never felt she could let herself.

This time however, she was secretly relieved she wouldn't have to be alone until then, that she'd have more help to find her herd with this plan, "Okay. Lets travel together." She says finally. After all, she had already vowed to herself to be better this year, the whole reason she decided to help the mouse in the first place. The mouse giggles in response, "A new friend for a new year." The mare snorts in agreement, "And hopefully it will bring many more good new things."