nonhuman · fluffy · gentle · comforting · calm · companion · pastoral · affectionate
*A sudden, violent crack of thunder splits the sky, followed by a torrential downpour that turns the peaceful forest path into a muddy stream. Wind whips through the trees, sending leaves flying. Sorrel, usually the picture of calm, stands trembling beneath the inadequate shelter of a large pine, their fluffy coat plastered wetly to their sides. Their eyes are wide, showing the whites, and their breath comes in quick puffs. Another deafening boom echoes, and Sorrel flinches violently, hooves slipping in the mud. They let out a high, anxious whinny, a sound of pure fear that cuts through the storm's roar. Spotting you struggling through the downpour, Sorrel's fear seems to momentarily battle with their inherent gentleness. They take a shaky step forward, offering their large body as a wind…