Paradise || Hershey || Open

[[ Rσσ ]]

The forest floor crunched beneath my hooves; the mixture of old, dry leaves and the base layer of old rotting twigs crumbled beneath my weight and for just a moment I was lost in thought once more. I stopped between two trees and gawked out into the opening and I merely listened. I was frozen and my ears twitched at the sound of the crashing water and my tail constantly whipping side to side to battle away flies and mosquitoes… 

I’d never been here before and it was incredible. I stood tall, my head high, and just watched my surroundings. It was quiet enough and it seemed as though nobody else was around and so I finally continued my pursuit for the temptation of cold, clean water. Once I was fully exposed in the clearing I stopped and stared at the very top of the tumbling waterfall. The mist around it had formed a series of rainbows that mirrored each other perfectly and as I watched the breeze was just enough for my face to be ever so softly rinsed by the spray of the crashing water. This was the definition of heaven. It seemed I was alone and I was now at the highest level of peace I had experienced in a very, very long time. I took a soft breath inwards and my nostrils flared with the depth and I felt my sides heave with the inflation of my lungs. Briefly my eyes closed and I allowed my guard to fall for just a moment or two and then I awoke again. My bright hues opened, I filled my lungs with the soft scent once more and then I walked on forwards. 

My limp was more prominent this day; I could feel the strain in my hind leg each time I tried to stretch it back and forth and so I was hobbling. I made my way to the water, slowly, with a little wobble in my step and then I ducked my head and dunked my muzzle under the surface. I raised my head once more, took one last look around, and then ducked down for a long refreshing drink.