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Post by Hud Levine on Aug 10, 2012 19:50:30 GMT -5
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At a whole year old, Hoke was finally allowed to leave his parents' side and enjoy some alone time in the great swamps of Yacare.
Not all was as rosy as usual. Wintertime was a strange season for the mire, covering the trees with frost and more snow than it was used to. Hoke, who had never seen snow before, couldn't imagine a more fun substance and found himself purposefully hurling himself into the banks that gathered around cypress stumps. It was tougher than normal to make out what was bayou and what was land but Hoke knew the area pretty well. It wasn't like the marshes that changed every single day. The colt had grown substantially since his birth and by now had a longer mane, though still young and not as full as it would be. His black and white tail reached down longer than before, sometimes even catching on loose branches and moss hangings.
The tri-colored foal had surely gotten his curious nature from his father as he galavanted and stuck his little pink nose into every nook and cranny he could find. He trotted forward, toward what he knew was cold bayou water. In the distance and behind about two cypress knees was a cold-blooded killer, an alligator ( a "gatuh", as his father pronounced it.) Instantly Hoke's ears fell back. He knew to be quiet and not make any more sudden moves. Hoss had taught his son that the giant lizards weren't as quick-witted in the wintertime but they could still pack a punch. Best to leave them alone. The colt about-faced, deciding silently not to mention the encounter with his parents.
He continued on at a brisk pace, away from the monster, catching sight of an old, old log withering away under the cold winter's grasp. It was not covered with much snow, much to Hoke's disappointment. Although, his nose did still feel the need to rummage through it as it had in every other orifice the swamp's trees had to offer. Red and black ears perked forward, the colt positioned himself at one end of the large log. It was hollow. As his nostrils lowered to the end of it, Hoke could smell something irregular, something he'd never smelled before. It was similar to that of the alligator and yet completely different. He couldn't describe it but he knew he shouldn't linger. Perhaps the scent was that of one of the many other predators his father had warned him about. As he pulled back up he could see a dark coil inside shift and resituate itself. Hoke took a few steps back and lowered his head to get a better angle. Catching a golden glance from inside the dark log, Hoke blinked a few times and pulled up quickly. There was no way those eyes were friendly. The colt took another turn and began walking, unwilling to get too close. He'd heard about his father's loss and didn't want to be next.
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