Heart of the Herd

Lost Way couldn’t help but stare out the window into the dark, black void of night. Neither the moon nor the stars were visible due to the thick overlay of clouds that rained down a heavy snow. The sight of large and puffy flakes hitting up against the glass were enough to make Lost want to shiver. It was a cold winter’s night, which made the small statured zebra thankful to be where he was; curled up on the couch in front of a roaring fireplace that caused orange light to dance and flicker over the otherwise unlit room.

“Mmmnngh,” A grunt spilled into Lost Way’s ear that caused him to giggle. He of course wasn’t thankful for just the fire to keep him warm, but also the large stallion that was currently nuzzling his muzzle up against his ear.

“You falling asleep on me?” Lost Way asked as he ran his hind leg up between the bigger stallion’s pair at the far end of the couch.

“Mmmno,” Crashing Thunder responded with a very half-hearted and unconvincing answer. “Just resting my eyes.

Lost giggled playfully before squirming to turn so that he was no longer being spooned by Crashing Thunder, but instead facing the large stallion with the two of them muzzle to muzzle. The large stallion’s eyes were shut, which gave Lost the perfect opportunity to lean his head forward and plant a kiss right on the stallion’s nose. Crash cracked open his eyes, and let a small smile split his face.

“You look like you’re about to start snoring,” Lost Way teased.

“Shaddup,” Crashing Thunder said before rolling his eyes and grabbing Lost Way in his forelegs. He pulled the stallion close and squeezed him so hard that it reminded the zebra just how dramatically different their strength was. He didn’t mind.

“You’re crushing me, Crash,” Lost Way whined with a feigned urgency as he began squirming. “You’re Crushing Thunder!”

Crash chuckled. It was a warm and hearty sort of laugh that made Lost Way feel all warm and fuzzy inside. It was the kind of laugh that Lost had learned to recognize as his home. Whenever he heard it he couldn’t help but smile, and think how lucky he was to call Crashing Thunder his own.

“What’re you smiling for?” Crashing Thunder asked.

“No reason,” Lost Way said as he planted his hoof firmly on Crashing Thunder’s chest, and began to rub in slow and steady circles. “This is just really nice. Being here with you, I mean.”

“Hmph,” Crashing Thunder responded. “You’re sappy tonight.”

“I know,” Lost Way admitted. He found no shame in such a thing. He was joyful, and he didn’t mind being a little sappy to express it. Sappy meant that there was a reason to feel this happy. He leaned up his head and kissed Crash on one of his cheeks, only to get a kiss of his own planted right back on his lips.

“What’re you thinking about?” Crashing Thunder asked. “Now that you’ve woken me up.”

“So you WERE sleeping?”

“Mmm, starting to reconsider that crushing thing,” Crash responded, and teasingly tightened his hug around Lost’s body once again.

“Okay, okay,” Lost Way giggled as he shook his head. “I was just thinking about us I guess.”

Lost glanced up at Crashing Thunder. His face was so familiar. He knew every pattern and shade of this stallion’s fur. He had watched the stallion grow up, as Crash had done for him. Yet it was so recent that he had begun to look at the stallion differently. Friendship had so quickly transformed. It had broken what they once shared, but also transformed it into something entirely new.

“What about us?” Crashing Thunder asked, and tilted his head in question.

“I guess just how far we’ve come?” Lost said before smiling. He felt a little bit silly all of a sudden. “You’re right. I am sappy.”

Crashing Thunder raised his forelegs and embraced Lost Way’s head. He pulled the zebra close and planted a kiss on his forehead before nuzzling gently. Lost slowly closed his eyes, and let himself get lost in that embrace. The scent of his best friend and lover filled his lungs. He wanted to melt into that couch and never leave Crashing Thunder’s embrace.

“I love you,” Crash said softly. “Even if you are gushy.”

Lost Way smiled.

“I love you too, big guy.”

The winter winds outside blew up against the house, but Lost and Crash might as well have been a million miles away from that harshness. It had been just a little over a year ago when their friendship began to change, and from then on it had never been the same.