The Horse’s routine deliberation was underway, judiciously considering whether night was falling or his eyes were closing, when an unexpected ray of light flickered past his face. He rose his head to inhale this rare spectacle, a lingering flash of burnt orange cast over the entire Savanna-Plain as it prepared for dusk, momentarily stuck in the infinite beauty of twilight. As thousands of Grasshoppers chirped their bravos in surround sound, the Horse gazed at the mysterious source of luster, reappearing with elegance for its encore performance. The endless horizon struck him with rapture, just as it did when he witnessed it through the eyes of a younger Horse.
His bones were as tenuous as the twigs that crunched between his prancing hooves, but the Foal kept a vigilant eye for Kingfishers, ready to race even the birds at a moment’s notice. He was growing stronger by the day, and soon he’d be a Colt, independent and free to roam the Savanna-Plain on his own. There were plenty of interesting characters to behold in the meantime. Elephants chewed their way through foliage with large swinging trunks, and Rhinos jostled for attention at every clearing. He tracked curious Giraffes stretching their lengthy necks to eavesdrop on bathing Hippos as they gossiped, and he watched Termites tirelessly construct fortresses only to abandon them. He was awestruck as the Jackals told tales of colossal swarms of Wildebeests making grand migrations across the land, and he listened excitedly as the Antelopes and Gazelles exchanged exaggerated tales of escape from prides of stalking Lions. The action around him enthralled the young Foal, but even as he replayed their stories in his head, his eyes drifted off towards the sunset. The horizon was one of the greatest mysteries on the Savanna-Plain, and no one knew where it began or where it ended. He stared in wonder at its endless possibility, how it felt almost within reach if he could just have a few days to chase it. He would have left that day itself in pursuit, but there were younger Foals that could barely stand and aging Horses that could barely move, and they relied on him for help. Soon, however, The Foal would be old enough to follow his vision, heeding the horizon’s call of opportunity and adventure.
The Colt’s growing muscles gleaned with sweat underneath the midday sun as scattered clouds danced around in vain. The moon had veiled and unveiled its cloak many times since he first set off towards the horizon, and he had traversed the farthest reaches of the Savanna-Plain. The midnight skies were ripped open with mesmerizing starlight, but they were colder than they were back home. The creatures he met were radiant and lively, but they were aloof to his friendly gestures. Ostriches tunneled their ears underground when he asked for directions, and the Zebras rebuked him for his modest outer coat. At last he came across a herd of Buffaloes, making their way across the land. He was sure that these cosmopolitan beasts could share the secrets of the horizon from their years of travels, but even they scoffed at his dreams and advised him to surrender. The sunset that evening found the Colt wearier than the ones before, and self-doubt was choking his ambitions like a muzzle. He hoped with the next sunrise he’d awaken to shining rays, beckoning him with even greater force, reaffirming his trajectory. Instead, his eyes drifted open to a Meerkat, staring at him curiously with its head tilted to one side. The Meerkat was far from home, and it was hoping that the nimble Colt could hasten its return. He was eager to help, but the Meerkat’s burrow was in the opposite direction of the horizon. Eroded rock pellets gnashed between his hooves as he hesitated, and he surveyed the destination that seemed to move five steps to his every four. Perhaps changing course would be serendipitous and unearth a winning strategy. Besides, he’d be a Stallion soon, fast enough to make up for any lost time.
An opportunistic Eagle swooped beneath the bleached clouds overhead, and Meerkats dove underground for cover. The Stallion roared with laughter as he chased the bird until it evaporated with the heat of dawn, finding rich pleasure in this now regular routine. Many solstices had cycled since he relinquished his desire to discover where the sun’s path began and ended. He’d occasionally watch the sun’s descent and contemplate a return to his quest, but with every pace towards the West, his heart pulled him twice as firmly another way, till the horizon’s call fully hushed and faded. He had determined that one lifetime was not enough to fulfill his dream, and therefore it wasn’t worth the effort of a lifetime. His path, once so unwavering and determined, took on a meandering spirit. His unexpected new friends made a home for him in the eastern stretches of the Savanna-Plain, and they relished in each other’s differences. The white clouds turned gray as they congregated above, rain was imminent.
A tear ambled down the Horse’s face, concluding in his smile. The adventures he had envisioned as a young Foal had dispersed like his youth, but they made room for memories, more sacred than any dream. He never learned whether the horizon had a beginning or an end, but he did learn to treasure what its radiant glow revealed. His eyes were closed and dusk had fallen, but the Horse’s vision was quite clear. The ray of light had long ago flickered out, but the Savanna-Plain was just as meaningful.