- -2- -
QUEST
the filly comes with beautiful power everyone knows of her existence
because of her beauty
and untamed mind
she is wanted by all men
running from them
as the river flows through
the mountains and valley
the filly’s beauty and love
for the land has kept her
on the wild side
not to be caught in their traps
sought out daily
but not letting anyone
put the reins on her freedom
she wishes not to be owned
but to share life and love
with the rider of her choosing
– ???
The colt froze. He slowly lifted his entire head out of the water and gazed at the stranger, water dripping down his face and off the end of his muzzle.
It was a beautiful blue roan foal, with deep brown eyes. They seemed to be looking into his soul. It had slightly brown legs that looked like they had been coated with thin mud, and its mane and tail were both a darkening brown, nearly black, matching its face and the start of its neck. It had a perfect star in the middle of its forehead, but the right tip stretched away and down its face slightly, making it seem as if a shooting star had fallen from the sky and pasted itself to this foal’s face.
At first, the young colt didn’t know what to do or say. He had never met another horse before, let alone one about his own age. He had been on his own as long as he could remember. He’d never known his parents. His first memory was of the waving branches of a willow tree, waving its hello to him. The young colt had no friends, and the only other animals he had ever seen were squirrels, birds, fish, and the occasional rabbit. He had once glimpsed a deer, bouncing over the undergrowth, and he had thankfully only seen one lion. It had been sleeping in its den peacefully, and he had only noticed it because he had been watching a butterfly, and it had flown past the entrance to the cave.
The only things the colt had ever spoken to were himself and a sparrow he had tried to befriend. That was the first and last time he’d ever engage in conversation with another living thing. Or at least he’d thought so. But now he was standing only a few yards away from another foal, the first he’d ever seen.
The two looked at one another, studying each other silently. Finally, the colt broke the silence.
“Hi… Who are you?”
Silence. The other horse said nothing for so long that the colt thought perhaps he had imagined this horse into existence. He blinked hard, then looked again. It was still there, examining him. The colt was about to stick his head under the water again to test one last time if he had imagined this young horse, but then it spoke.
“I’m not supposed to talk to strangers. And I’ve never seen you before. So I’m not saying anything before you tell me your name and where you’re from.”
The voice was female, so he had at least figured one thing out. The colt thought about how to reply. He could continue in the way he started; being friendly and submissive, or he could try to answer to her bossiness with his own haughty remark. He decided to go with haughtiness. He’d never tried it before, and wanted to impress this strange filly.
“I asked the first question, so you have to answer mine before you can ask anything else,” he said
The colt liked the way his voice sounded. Bossy. Commanding. He stood a little taller.
The filly cocked her head at him, puzzling over what to say. Finally, she said,
“Fine. My name is Quest and I’m two.”
The colt was surprised that she had given in. She had seemed like a hard shell to crack.
“Don’t look so shocked,” said the filly, a small smirk sliding onto her face. “I was just messing with you before.” Her voice quieted and she grew sad. “Nobody’s been there to tell me what to do for a while now…”
The colt suddenly felt some pity for this filly. She seemed care-free on the outside, but something was definitely bothering her.
“Um— Quest, right?” he said, hoping to distract her from her worries.
The filly, Quest, nodded.
“That’s me.”
“So,” the colt said, “You want to know my name and where I’m from, right?” he continued, speaking slowly so as not to fumble his words.
Quest nodded again.
“Well, I don’t really have a name. Nobody’s ever called me anything before, and you’re the first horse I've ever met.”
First, Quest looked surprised, then thoughtful, then amused.
“You couldn't have survived out here all by yourself for that long,” she said, shaking her head slightly, another of her small smirks on her face. “Nobody can do that. I’ve only barely managed, and I’ve only been out here for a few weeks.”
The colt saw the depression coming back onto Quest’s face, so he quickly spoke again.
“No, it’s true! I never knew my parents and I don’t have any relatives or friends. I promise I’m telling the truth.”
To the colt’s relief, Quest’s sadness faded.
“You’re a little rebel, you are!” She said, smiling again. “I believe you. But I honestly didn’t think it was possible to survive all by yourself. You must be pretty tough. And as for having no name… Can I call you ‘friend’?”
The colt was delighted.
“Of course!” He trotted around the pool of water and the two new friends sniffed noses. At that moment, each of the foals could tell that they would be fast friends, no matter what happened.