dream; story seed

[coraa]

I dreamed that I was married to someone -- the youngest son of the owner of a great and not-quite-real ranch, up in the mountains. I hadn't come there quite of my own will, but I hadn't expected to, either, and was content. There was something not quite right about the ranch's denizens. Not just the people, but the animals: cows, goats, horses.

I dreamed I was helping in birthing season, helping with the birthing of a mare held in particularly high regard. The mare was dark-brown and a little shaggy, with great calm dark eyes. Though the foal was turned around, it (I think it was male, can't be sure) was born healthy, and everyone was happy.

Then the mare went into labor again. I was concerned, because I knew that horses didn't generally (if at all) carry twins, certainly not to term. But no one else was surprised. The mare gave birth not to another foal but to a girl -- a young woman, really, who looked more like fourteen or fifteen than newborn, with long dark hair, and very thin -- thin in the leggy way of a young horse. But she was breathing shallowly. Her eyes opened once and then closed.

I was concerned, not only because the horse had given birth to what looked like a human girl, but also because it was obvious that the girl was dying. The woman in charge of the foaling, a great strong serious matron, picked her up. I asked whether we could get her any help, but the woman said no -- she said "These second ones never live long." She sounded sad, but not at all surprised. She carried the girl away to make her comfortable in a bed, and in due time, sure enough, the girl died quietly without opening her eyes again.

I woke without getting any explanation, of course.

I think there's a story in there somewhere.