The stallion emerged from a line of trees, his golden adornments a bright contrast to the gloom of the day. A dense fog had hung over the lands for two days now, a fine mist seemingly suspended in the air. Moisture clung to his coat, droplets of water sliding off his golden horn and melting into the soft fur of his forehead as he surveyed his surroundings.
He had exited the forest to come upon a wide and expansive meadow, the tall grass drooping with the wetness in the air. Though the fog was thick and visibility was low, he recognized the valley floor and knew that this field stretched for many miles. He thought back to his stargazing with Rook and thought this would be a perfect place to view the heavens, were it not for the fog. He was grateful for his meeting with the ebony mare, she had done much to clear his mind. He had carried his childhood burdens for far too long and was learning to let go. It was difficult for him to accept the loss of his brother, but he had done all he could. It was time to allow himself to live his own life.
With his past literally behind him, the stallion sighed and continued forward, moving away from the mountain edge of the valley that was his childhood home. Gazing resolutely forward, he squinted in a hopeless attempt to see clearer in the fog. He moved slowly and cautiously in the haze, his bangles and chains clinking lightly together, his hooves padding softly on the damp ground. As his distance from the mountains grew, he couldn't stifle the smile that cracked across his face.
