Smashed Wings and Playthings

"speech!" thoughts!

I had just gotten used to the rainforest, but I felt almost suffocated by the trees and woods and shadows that whispered to me at night. So, today I wanted to venture out, to see new places, to meet new people. My little dream (my other mother would have called it a "fit", but she left me, so what do I care?) had left me terrified of anything that moves, and even more terrified of things that didn't, but now it was almost like I was normal. I had recently found out that I was called a Druid, or a horse that loved nature. Well, of course I did! I was even born in the colors of the wild. My fluorescent green mane was swirling about on my neck, still short and boy-like, but I didn't fret about it because I knew it would grow out one day. Hopefully. I shook my neck, curls bouncing lightly, and spread my legs so that I could reach the ground to graze. I hadn't had milk for a really long time, and I didn't even want it anymore. Though grass wasn't as satisfying, nor as tasty, I had learned to deal with it in order to survive being a lone filly. After a few moments of boredly running my closed mouth over short stalks of grass, I sighed and picked up my head to gaze around, clear grey eyes looking for any predators that would want to eat me.

”GOTCHA MUTANT!”

I jumped, a frightened squeal bubbling from my vocal chords at the sudden shouting. I could only stand still, trembling, thinking about the red monster that had yelled at me that night I had accidentally messed up a family moment. Oh, he was so scary! I didn't like him! I took a few shaky steps towards the row of thick brush that separated the Lush Steppe from where I had taken my rest, and poked my head through the prickly leaves to find a filly playing about. Oh! A filly! Would she play with me? I brought my head back to my side of the bushes and thought about going over to play. Was she nice? What did she mean by "mutant"? I rolled my eyes and looked over myself. My earth-brown coat was undirtied and clean, darker brown brindles shining in the sunlight. The glowing green feathers on my hooves remained tangle free, and my short tail and still cropped mane didn't have a single vine caught in them. I looked fantastic. I looked nothing like a mutant! And so deciding upon this, I grinned and got into a pouncing position before leaping over the bushes, landing a little ways away from the other filly.

"speech!" thoughts!


I watched as the filly kept bucking and having a fit, and it seemed she had paid no mind to me until I had yelled. But when the words came from my mouth, she turned to see me and yelled, almost as if she was frightened.

”AH! Mutant!”

She skidded to a halt and avoided collision, and with my still weak Druidic magic I felt her weight on the Earth, and along with hers I also felt the critters bouncing over the Steppe, each landing like a faint "here I am!" sign. I focused on the colorful filly's facial features, and she seemed to be checking me out, the fear turning into curiosity. I cocked my head and wondered why she was acting so strange- had she come from the Rift? Was she new? She certainly didn't act like it, what with her rambunctious playtime. But I had no room to speak- I was a native of Aeon, a purebred Aeonain filly. This place runs through my veins, and so I was very used to seeing the weirdest horses- you could even go so far as to say that I cared deeply for them. No, not them in themselves, but them as in because they are the population and I was to keep track of them and to, in a way, protect them. But wow, why did I even feel that way? I had no clue, but just shrugged inwardly and went back to studying the spotted girl. She herself seemed mutated, in a way, though somehow I knew by her reaction that she hadn't been touched by the Rainbow. She seemed as if she had been standing in the snow, which was impossible because it never snowed here. Or, at least, not as long as I've been alive. She was a pretty little thing, but so petite and delicate. I began to worry if I was going to break her just by playing with her. My dark chocolate audits had tipped backward in concentration and thinking, but as soon as she spoke again they perked, listening to her words.

“You’re….strange looking…”

At her words my ears fell back, some in confusion and some in hurt. What was so strange about me? I wasn't ugly, or so at least I didn't think I was. I mean, I know the nightlight mane and tail were a bit weird, but certainly there was weirder horses than me on Aeon. My eyes narrowed as I attempted to hold back tears. Backing slowly, I felt as if she had just slapped me in the face, and it hurt. But not my face, in my chest, where I think my heart is. But she spoke again, and being the polite and sweet-mannered filly I am I listened to what she had to say before leaving.

“I’m…sorry. I just, never met someone like you…”

I stopped and stared at her, obviously frayed by her words. How had she not seen a horse like me before? I was nothing special, nothing to be picked out from a crowd. Perhaps she was from the other world, maybe they didn't have the same appearances. Maybe they were all spotted! I shook the thoughts from my rather large head and gave her my best smile, even if it was a false one.

"It's okay. If it makes you feel any better, you look different, too."

I said, voice still unmarred by age and sounding out in a rather high pitch. I watched as the filly searched behind her, and I wondered what she could be looking for. However, I didn't ask, simply because it was none of my business. She turned back to be with a proud smile, head held high. I suddenly felt the urge to become proud too, and I stood up straight with my head level, becoming by full self. My body was thick, though not too muscular for my age, true to my Aeonian nature. I listened as she spoke with a lively tone.

”I’m Deliria!”

She gave her title, and I felt as if I should do the same.

"My name is Taigi. Taigi Ayelene."