[Trade] Day in The Life of Zebras

Sanaa raised her head as Muchero crossed from where he’d been grazing towards her, a smile already playing across his lips as his tail swished.

She tilted her head, regarding him as he stepped close enough to bump their noses together with a nicker before practically prancing away, inviting chase.

She sighed through her nose all too fondly, tossing her own head with a whinny.

If he wanted her to chase, he’d better get moving then.

He beamed, head bobbing for a moment as he eyed her, and then took off running.

She snorted, giving him a few moments’ head start before she took off running after him, relishing in the pounding of her hooves against the ground and the easy flex of her muscles, ears pricked forward as she rushed after him as he zigzagged around their home.

He turned sharply, and she snorted as she twisted to follow, their run now carrying them towards the barrier of their home, humans milling around outside.

She narrowed her gaze, pushing harder against the dirt and grass under-hoof…

With a burst of speed, she managed to catch Muchero, shoving at his hip with her nose before breaking off to race along the barrier, hearing him whinny his delight behind her before the sound of his steps behind her.

With the roles reversed, Sanaa turned all of her attention to keeping out of her herdmate’s reach, each step hitting the natural rhythm of her run like the steady beating of a heart.

This, she let herself muse for just a moment, was what life could be. The thrum of a game, the ease of plentiful land to graze with no predators in sight, her only concern how long she could stay away from her companion or how often he’d pester her for such games…

A shrill shrieking noise split through the air.

Her hooves stumbled to a stop, nostrils flaring as hse scented for the danger, for any cause of such an alarmed cry, ears erect and ready to bolt.

Muchero huffed, drawing to a stop beside her with his features pinched in annoyance at the interruption, entirely unbothered even as she looked around for the cause or source of the noise.

A few humans had looked, but they were already resuming their normal walks, entirely unbothered.

Sanaa did not share their optimism of a false alarm.

Her herdmate huffed again, nudging her neck before trotting ahead of her, only to circle back when she didn’t move to try again.

Her ears laid back, and she snorted at him in warning. Now wasn’t the time to play when their could’ve been danger!

He stared back, annoyingly unmoved as he circled and tried to get her to rejoin their game. When she just glared at him, he returned to her side again to nudge at her.

She twisted, snapping at the air beside his shoulder and startling him back as she stamped a hoof in agitation.

They were too exposed by the barrier…

She cast him another scathing look before turning to walk deeper into the plains around them, ears still swiveling around at every sound, every movement suddenly measured and cautious as she tried to attune herself to her surroundings and any sign of danger.

Muchero sighed but traipsed along beside her, head low and relaxed as he gave in to her demand to move for their own wellbeing.

Really, she’d think he’d be more concerned!

Just as she was beginning to debate if they were far enough away from the barrier to be thoroughly insulated from any potential threats and danger, he perked up beside her, ears flicking forward as his nostrils flared.

She paused, sniffing at the air as well to try and see what had caught his attention, but…

Well, she could smell the normal things. The civet and wombat and others that shared their plains, the different grasses and plants of their home, even a few distinct smells she could only identify as being from the humans in the distance…

Nothing that would catch attention that she could think of, casting him a confused look.

Still, he was perked up and seemingly ready to go, ears pricked and gaze far more alert as he chuffed at her.

She frowned for another moment, before inclining her head to invite him to take the lead. He beamed, setting off at a quick trot without another moment’s hesitation. She rolled her eyes, perhaps a little too fondly, and followed after him through the grasses.

It wasn’t long before they pushed their way through a group of branches to find one of the shiny trays that the humans often left food on for them, chunks of something orange scattered around it. Pumpkin, she thought she’d heard keepers call it once.

Muchero hummed, more than delighted with his find as he made a beeline for the treats, and she chuckled to herself.

Trust him to lead them straight to food. Then again, who was she to complain, she decided as she moved to join him.