I wandered along the road, Moritz trailing behind me silently. Screech was playing with my mane as I walked. I was so very tired. This search was beginning to seem futile, and I swear that the Moor literally sapped energy from you for as long as you were within it. Screech suddenly dropped my hair and flew ahead, looking intently into a pond that was next to the road ahead. Curious, I glanced over, and saw something moving. Odd. I looked up and around, and there was nothing anywhere nearby for it to reflect. I slowly approached the pond, my hooves squelching softly as they sank into the sodden grass. On the actual Moor around me, there was nothing but stillness and grey.  Grey sky, grey mist drifting everywhere, dark green grass and bones that lay where they had fallen. The only things with any colour and life were myself, Moritz, Screech, and Moritz’ pet eyeball. But in the pond the reflection showed a battlefield in the middle of a battle.

There were colourful banners flying, their golden edges catching the sun as they flapped in the wind. There were massive tents, easily big enough to hold a hundred Coursers. There was movement and colour everywhere, and for some reason I was absolutely sure that this was a glimpse into a very distant past. I noticed that Moritz was looking too, but making sure to stay at an angle where he wasn’t able to see his own reflection. I thought about that for a minute, and every instinct in me screamed for me to not look at myself in the pond.

My father’s voice echoed in my head, telling me that fear means you’re worthless. I wasn’t scared of a stupid pond.

I scowled, and strode straight over to the edge of the pond, and looked directly down at myself.

No.

Not myself.

A Courser stared back at me, the most beautiful Courser I’d ever seen in my life – and I pride myself on my beauty. She was a shimmering golden colour, with white gold hair that fell to her knees. Her muzzle was the softest shade of pink, and her eyes were like pools of liquid gold. She gently blinked at me at the same time as I blinked at her, and then I screamed and scurried backwards as a spear burst through her beautiful head.

I was ashamed to say that I ran in absolute terror, and didn’t stop running.