There was something about the world beyond

There was something about the world beyond the walls that intrigued Nera, something almost untouchable. She wanted to reach out and grab it, but her hands and mind failed her.

Nera often felt like her memories were being distorted and that if she thought about the world beyond the walls she would become confused and disoriented. Nera wondered if

of her and her husband mating for the first time. She remembered how painful it was since his hoofs kept bumping into her head. "Oh" she thought i could have tied him up instead

! Why did I let him talk me into this? She stomped her hooves in indignation. Sure, she didn't mind the harness, and she even sort of enjoyed wearing the ostrich plumes, but

being mounted & ridden by a naked cowboy? It was shameful! She snorted & shook her mane in protest. The naked cowboy leaned down & whispered in her ear, "Come on, darlin'. We've

only just begun...to live...white lace and promises..." The naked cowboy's words of love, promises of stacks of alfalfa lined with molasses made the mare's mane bristle.

Their physical connection in this spiritual wasteland, man and horse, awakened something deep within the recesses of her equine consciousness.

Maybe they were one, horse and man, pulsating hoofs on foreheads, flapping testosterone upon frilly mane...whinnying, whispering...wild horses couldn't drag him away, or could they

? The horses shocked him to death when they neighed in unison: "The coldest place on Earth is in your own heart tonight, a place where nothing lives but sorrow." Just because.