“Eleanor!” A voice chimed in the distance.
Eleanor glanced up, bright blue eyes searching for the sound. Her eyes squinted, the sun bright and warm. It was a nice spring day. Eleanor had spoken with Najinca earlier in the day, letting her mate know that she planned to spend time in the morning in the nearby glen. Her eyes continued to squint, trying to make out the shape in the distance.
She gasped excitedly. “Rosetta”, she gushed in response.
The black and white mare appeared to be trotting quickly through the light skim of snow they got the night before. Eleanor trotted out to meet her partway. The cousins nosed at each other playfully, both happy to see each other. When they encountered each other again, after many years apart, it was one of Eleanor’s happiest memories. They were so close when young, it was such a wretched time to be separated from each other. But they were together again after so much hardship.
“We had the same thought this morning, didn’t we?” Rosetta chuckled. She shook her bangs back, her garnet eyes shining.
“Indeed.” Eleanor grinned.
The cousins fell in step with each other, slowing their trot down to a languish walk. They walked in silence for a few moments, comfortable as they were in each other’s presence. They admired the chirping chickadees and the louder sounds of the returning geese, flying above their heads in a V-formation.
“Hey…” Rosetta paused.
“Hmm?” Eleanor answered. She stopped for a moment, eyeing her cousin thoughtfully. Rosetta seemed pensive, lost in thought. It was unlike her cousin, for usually she could not stop talking! Eleanor was grateful that Rosetta was still similar to how she was as a filly, easily excitable and eager to have fun, despite all that happened. She appreciated her optimism.
In Eleanor’s opinion, she was not so much like how she was as a filly. She had been so bossy and spoiled. Ok…she still had her moments where she needed to have her way and sure she liked to keep up a nice appearance. Oh and gifts, she appreciated each and every gift Najinca bestowed upon her, but she believed she wasn’t so bad anymore. After her mamma had lost control of the herd, after her papa had died, so much had changed. She wasn’t the heir anymore, rather she was banished from returning.
“Do you remember the stories Lady Fedella told us? You know, the ones about the stars?” Rosetta finally continued, her voice a bit strained. “She was so talented at crafting stories. Oh, and I guess great at matching couples too.” Rosetta rambled; her tone of voice appeared frantic.
Eleanor thought back to Lady Fedella, none of their friends and mentors had seen Lady Fedella since the day she disappeared from their herd. Eleanor was young when it happened. It had been quite a scandal; she could recall that at least. No one had been told that the mare was planning to leave. She had seemed so happy….
“I do. They were hopeful, happy stories. They were a joy to hear.” Eleanor enjoyed hearing grandiose tales, always amazed how creative some Soquili could be. She was not a creative mare in any way. But those stories were a thing of the past now, just like so many other things she took for granted.
“I think my favourite one was about the star crossed lovers. How they were universes apart but connected by threads woven by the stars themselves. When you looked up at the night, at one moment in the year, that you could see the shapes of these two lovers, reaching out to one another with a hoof raised. Other times, they were so far from each other.” Rosetta sighed with a dramatic flair.
Eleanor couldn’t help but laugh. “Oh, Rosetta.” She wondered though why Rosetta was thinking of the past. Had something happened? “Their fates are forever intertwined, written in the stars.”
“You might be thinking, an odd choice for a mare like me.” Rosetta moved forward suddenly, and Eleanor starred after her, silently agreeing. Rosetta paced back and forth, before turning back towards Eleanor.
“Eleanor. I think I am in love. No! I am in love.” Rosetta stated. “Oh Eleanor, I never thought these feelings would ever happen for me. I always said I would be a free spirit forever, never wanting to be stuck. But it has hit me over time, as I spent another day with him. I love him. How I love him.”
Eleanor gasped, her blue eyes shining with tears. She was so happy for her, for her dear Rosetta. Although they were cousins, they were like sisters to one another, both an only child to their parents. However, who was the stallion that captured Rosetta’s heart? When had this happened? Eleanor knew she had been busy with her own foals, who were now grown, how could she have missed this?
“Rosetta, I’m so happy for you. Truly. Tell me more, I beg you.” Eleanor requested.
“Ha. Well do I have a story for you!” Rosetta replied.
Eleanor couldn’t wait to hear it.
The End!
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