✨ Rex Claim Attempt 1 ✨

Literature entry: 835 words 

The Ribbon and the Stallion

Malibu had been walking this stretch of the beach since she was a child by her parents' property whenever she had to clear her head. The wind carried a hush, as though the beach was carrying her worries away. Her thoughts were being consumed on acquiring a pony for her younger sister to show on. Just like fate, her breath catches as she saw them, figures emerging from the fog, like ghosts from an old tale. 

A herd of horses. 

Semi-wild, the locals called them. Not truly feral, but not tame either. They roamed the costal grasslands, rarely venturing this close to the beach. But today they stood with their hooves sunk into the sand, manes tossing in the salt breeze, eyes alert and watchful. There may be a dozen of them, all varying shades of earth and stone. But it was one at the edge of the group that had caught Malibu’s eye - a faded black splash stallion, young and proud. While the stallion wasn't very tall, perhaps 14 hands high, he still held himself with the swagger of a king in the making. His coat looked like dark ink washed in the sea foam, as though the ocean painted him herself. 

Malibu held her breath. 

The stallion snorted, ears twitching, and stepped towards her with a curious prance. She did not move or speak. The bell in her pocket jingled softly as her hand brushed against it. She slowly drew out a ribbon, a long stipt of blue fabric with a small golden bell sewn to one end. 

It was something she had always carried, always hoping to use it one day. As if lady luck was on her side, maybe today was that day. 

The stallion tossed his head and pawed the sand. His eyes were sharp, but not unkind. His nostrils flared as he saw the fluttering ribbon in her hand. The herd behind him watched, wary but calm, as though they sensed this was a dance, not a threat. 

“ Hey lad”, Malibu whispered. 

The stallion took another step forward, then two. He moved with the unpredictable energy of a young horse, bounding sideways one moment, still as stone the next. Malibu waited, letting him set the rhythm. When he paused within arm’s reach, Malibu slowly lowered her hand, showing the ribbon. It fluttered like a flag in the breeze, the bell giving a soft chime that made the stallion's ears perk up. 

He snorted again, and suddenly lunged forwards playfully, Malibu stumbled back, laughing as the stallion's breath puffed against her face. His muzzle bumped her shoulder, then nipped at the hem of her jumper. 

“Your just a big baby, hey”, she said, smiling. 

The stallion seemed to agree. He circled her hooves kicking up the sand, tail swishing with excitement. She moved slowly, step by careful step, until she was beside him. Her heart thudded as she reached up, brushing her fingers through his tangled mane. 

His withers twitched, but did not move away. 

“Easy” she whispered. “Just want to braid this in. You’ll like it. Makes a sound like sea wind”. 

The stallion tossed his head and shifted, his side bumping lightly. He wasn't used to standing still, not for something so strange and close. Malibu moved with care, untangling a section of his mane and beginning to weave the ribbon through it. Her fingers trembled. It was harder than she thought. The ribbon kept slipping. The bell jangled and startled him more than once. He moved sideways, almost knocking her off balance. 

“Okay, okay, sorry”, she laughed softly. “I know its strange, just a little more, okay?”. 

Finally, the ribbon held. The bell settled by his withers, where it jingled with every movement. 

She stepped back to admire her hard work. 

The stallion shook his head, testing the feel of it. The bell chimed again, his eard turing towards the sound of the bell. While the stallion was confused, he gave a pleased little snort, trotting in a small circle around Malibu, as if he was showing off his new accessory. The hed watched from afar, some stepping forwards with hesitant interest. 

He was beautiful, Malibu thought. Young and bold. Something in him reminded her of storms, restless, untamed yet full of life. 

She reached out one last time, placing her hand against his neck. He leaned into it, just briefly, before tossing his head and tritting away. Malibu watched as he rejoined the herd, the bell’s chime fading into the sound of the waves. Together, they moved off, hooves thudding softly on wet sand. The stallion glanced back once, just once, before disappearing into the mist. 

She stood there long after they had gone, hands still warm from the stallion's coat, heart full in a way she couldn't quite explain. The wild had let her in, just for a moment. And left her with a memory stitched in blue ribbon and silver sound. 

“See you later bud”, she thought to herself. 

Submitted By urania_moon ・ View Favorites
Submitted: 4 months ago ・ Last Updated: 4 months ago