Post by FarfraeFarm on Dec 21, 2022 21:22:31 GMT
21st December by Sue B.
The Solstice Journey
Pt 1
The small band of horses had been travelling for most of the night, as the waning moon began to sink lower in the sky, it's light still held enough strength to clearly see the three as they moved through the snow. Skeleton trees picked out a dark contrast, but all around, the gleam of white under silver moonlight and a scattering of stars, bright in the sky.
They wore no rugs. Just the freedom of wildness and movement. The lead horse - oldest and wisest - broke the trail. The youngsters followed, the occasional snaking neck, sideways leap and squeal giving away their inexperience. The old horse snorted his annoyance. Led them on, resolute.
Their travelling was steady, with occasional snatches of frozen leaves to eat, but always continuing forward.
They followed an ancient route, no matter the changes wrought by both Time and human hands. They were drawn, resolutely, down a path that was hidden to all but instinct.
The old horse picked up the pace. The two behind lagged, wanting to stop, to paw the snow and scrape bare the frozen grass. To eat, and settle to sleep, but the old horse kept onwards. Four had begun this journey, one had lagged. Was he to now become the last traveller?
Pt 2
A sudden flurry of hooves and flying sparkling snow. The two arrived behind him, jostling, snorting half in hunger and half in mock fight.. The silence around them shattered by their noise. The old horse threw up his head, dropped his quarters in threat. They settled.
He led them still onward. They were drawing near now, the sky lightening towards Sunrise.
Behind them, a distant squeal broke the silence for a second time. It was high, imperative, demanding attention. The young horses paused, half turned, hearing demand and plea, but the old horse's single acknowledgement was a flick of an ear, and the three moved resolutely forward.
Behind them the shrieks drew closer, and the sound of thundering, desperate hooves chased the line of their trail.
Above it all, the sky had changed from the silvered grey of dawn, and now flared into pale gold
as the sun broke the horizon, flaming the landscape into golden life. Reflections echoed the hue until even the air glowed the Gold of the rising Sun.
pt 3
The old horse had reached his destination. What had once been a wide open plain was much changed. Not within generation did the Old Horse remember but deep in his bones, he knew.
Then, the huge skies had been uninterrupted by shrub or tree. The centuries, of course, had added change. Willow and Ash seeded, grew tall , fell and grew again from seed in the eternal circle of life. Humans dug, seeking clay, building their houses on the ancient plain, but beneath it, hidden, the Earth remembered the eternal dance of Time.
The horse arched his old neck, and pranced in place. His feet drumming the frozen ground yet muffled by the covering snow. Like a drumbeat, echoing over the land. The two who had followed him stood and watched, and ate.
Behind him the shrieking reached a crescendo and a young grey stallion, fine boned and full of fire arrived, churning up snow as he skidded to a halt screaming his anger at being left. The old horse, with a twinkle in his eye danced and drummed his way to the newcomer, and the two began to twist around each other in a Dance as old as time, the Young and the Old, twisting and turning, rearing and mock fighting.
And ever the Drumbeat of hooves on frozen ground.
pt 4
Finally the two broke away from each other, The Old horse to rest and eat, and the Young horse?
He reared, poised in front of the Rising Sun, the two echoing each other. Young horse with his life ahead, and young Sun with another cycle to come.
(he is a julip lol! customised Silver Cloud is it?)
Have a wonderful Winter Solstice all
The Solstice Journey
Pt 1
The small band of horses had been travelling for most of the night, as the waning moon began to sink lower in the sky, it's light still held enough strength to clearly see the three as they moved through the snow. Skeleton trees picked out a dark contrast, but all around, the gleam of white under silver moonlight and a scattering of stars, bright in the sky.
They wore no rugs. Just the freedom of wildness and movement. The lead horse - oldest and wisest - broke the trail. The youngsters followed, the occasional snaking neck, sideways leap and squeal giving away their inexperience. The old horse snorted his annoyance. Led them on, resolute.
Their travelling was steady, with occasional snatches of frozen leaves to eat, but always continuing forward.
They followed an ancient route, no matter the changes wrought by both Time and human hands. They were drawn, resolutely, down a path that was hidden to all but instinct.
The old horse picked up the pace. The two behind lagged, wanting to stop, to paw the snow and scrape bare the frozen grass. To eat, and settle to sleep, but the old horse kept onwards. Four had begun this journey, one had lagged. Was he to now become the last traveller?
Pt 2
A sudden flurry of hooves and flying sparkling snow. The two arrived behind him, jostling, snorting half in hunger and half in mock fight.. The silence around them shattered by their noise. The old horse threw up his head, dropped his quarters in threat. They settled.
He led them still onward. They were drawing near now, the sky lightening towards Sunrise.
Behind them, a distant squeal broke the silence for a second time. It was high, imperative, demanding attention. The young horses paused, half turned, hearing demand and plea, but the old horse's single acknowledgement was a flick of an ear, and the three moved resolutely forward.
Behind them the shrieks drew closer, and the sound of thundering, desperate hooves chased the line of their trail.
Above it all, the sky had changed from the silvered grey of dawn, and now flared into pale gold
as the sun broke the horizon, flaming the landscape into golden life. Reflections echoed the hue until even the air glowed the Gold of the rising Sun.
pt 3
The old horse had reached his destination. What had once been a wide open plain was much changed. Not within generation did the Old Horse remember but deep in his bones, he knew.
Then, the huge skies had been uninterrupted by shrub or tree. The centuries, of course, had added change. Willow and Ash seeded, grew tall , fell and grew again from seed in the eternal circle of life. Humans dug, seeking clay, building their houses on the ancient plain, but beneath it, hidden, the Earth remembered the eternal dance of Time.
The horse arched his old neck, and pranced in place. His feet drumming the frozen ground yet muffled by the covering snow. Like a drumbeat, echoing over the land. The two who had followed him stood and watched, and ate.
Behind him the shrieking reached a crescendo and a young grey stallion, fine boned and full of fire arrived, churning up snow as he skidded to a halt screaming his anger at being left. The old horse, with a twinkle in his eye danced and drummed his way to the newcomer, and the two began to twist around each other in a Dance as old as time, the Young and the Old, twisting and turning, rearing and mock fighting.
And ever the Drumbeat of hooves on frozen ground.
pt 4
Finally the two broke away from each other, The Old horse to rest and eat, and the Young horse?
He reared, poised in front of the Rising Sun, the two echoing each other. Young horse with his life ahead, and young Sun with another cycle to come.
(he is a julip lol! customised Silver Cloud is it?)
Have a wonderful Winter Solstice all